Ever since the concept of recycling has been around, its proponents have emphasized recycling copper. As the metal is readily available and maintains excellent quality even after recycling, there is no reason not to do it and save precious resources in the process. Furthermore, one of the biggest benefits of copper recycling is that it can be done multiple times with very little to no drop in material quality. Moreover, mining copper from the ore is particularly challenging, not to mention harmful to the environment. The benefits of copper recycling are several, but how does the process take place exactly?

This question is answered here with a brief overview of copper recycling. 

The Process

The specifics of the process may vary across facilities, however, the general process remains quite similar. First and foremost, the copper scrap is put through an assembly line where the material is broken down into smaller pieces. In case there are insulations and other materials coating copper, then they are promptly removed. In certain cases, however, the materials may not be separated if it isn’t economically viable. 

The small, clean copper pieces are then screened for quality and separated by density so that different grades can be further segregated. Finally, the quality copper scrap is then smelted in primary and secondary smelters, with primary smelters processing copper concentrate and secondary smelters processing lower-grade copper scrap.

The smelted and purified copper is then turned into many different materials depending on the application, such as wires used in electronics, fittings, valves, and a whole host of hardware. 

This concludes the general recycling procedure for copper.

For efficient recycling of copper scrap, high-speed tool steel, tungsten carbide and other materials, there is no better choice than Alnor Industries Ltd. A family-owned establishment based in Mississauga, Ontario, we have decades of experience in the field of recycling and we also offer fair prices for all scrap material. To know more about our facility and operations, contact us today.