{"id":4712,"date":"2026-08-15T09:59:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T09:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reverterindustries.com\/about-us\/como-se-recicla-la-chatarra\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T09:55:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T09:55:35","slug":"how-scrap-metal-is-recycled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reverterindustries.com\/en\/recycling-plant-en\/how-scrap-metal-is-recycled\/","title":{"rendered":"How scrap metal is recycled: process, stages, benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scrap metal is recycled in five stages: collection and traceability<\/strong>, inspection and sorting<\/strong>, magnetic and eddy-current separation<\/strong>, shredding and screening<\/strong>, and smelting<\/strong> to produce new metal. The process separates ferrous metals (iron, steel) from non-ferrous ones (aluminium, copper) and returns them to the production cycle with the same quality as virgin raw material.<\/p>\n

Unlike other materials, metals can be recycled infinitely without losing their<\/strong> physical or chemical properties<\/strong>. That makes scrap a strategic resource that sustains entire industries \u2014from steelmaking to the automotive sector\u2014 reducing dependence on primary mining.<\/p>\n

Summary table: stages of scrap metal recycling<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stage<\/th>\nWhat happens<\/th>\nKey technology<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1. Collection<\/td>\nExtraction, transport and weighing of the material<\/td>\nReverse logistics, legal documentation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2. Sorting<\/td>\nInspection and assessment of metal quality<\/td>\nVisual inspection, appraisal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3. Separation<\/td>\nSplitting ferrous and non-ferrous<\/td>\nMagnets, eddy currents, spectrometry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4. Shredding<\/td>\nVolume reduction and screening by size<\/td>\nTwin-shaft shredders, screens<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5. Smelting<\/td>\nMelting the clean metal into ingots<\/td>\nFurnaces, briquetting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Why is recycling scrap metal important?<\/h2>\n

Scrap metal recycling is a pillar of the circular economy because of its environmental and economic impact:<\/p>\n