An Overview of Scrap Metal Recycling in Australia
Australia is a strong net exporter of a wide range of mineral commodities, especially metallic minerals. Being one of the most developed countries, Australia owns high level of resources consumption which is the main reason why Australia generates a large amount of waste materials, especially scrap metal. It is estimated that the current level of scrap metal generation in Australia equals approximately 50% of the country’s total metal consumption. In 2012/13, the overall amount of metal in Australia was estimated to be 12 million tons, among which the amount of generated scrap, waste metal and other losses is 7 millions tonnes!
Australia is a strong net exporter of a wide range of mineral commodities, especially metallic minerals. Being one of the most developed countries, Australia owns high level of resources consumption which is the main reason why Australia generates a large amount of waste materials, especially scrap metal. It is estimated that the current level of scrap metal generation in Australia equals approximately 50% of the country’s total metal consumption. In 2012/13, the overall amount of metal in Australia was estimated to be 12 million tons, among which the amount of generated scrap, waste metal and other losses is 7 millions tonnes!
In general, the flow of metal starts from mineral extraction, goes through several stages of transformation, such as processing, refining, fabrication, and manufacturing, includes product use in the economy (consumption), and ends up with product disposal, or scrap metal recycling for the next cycle.
By extrapolation, the Australian Scrap Metal Industry generates $2 billion annually, and holds 0.7% of the global scrap market. Over the period from 2002 to 2011, the amount of collected metal scrap grew from 3.3 Mt to 3.9 Mt. The overall collection rates are relatively stable at about 70%. The current levels of waste metal generation, metal scrap collection, and domestic processing of metal scrap in Australia equal approximately 50%, 35% and15%. There is still a long way to go to fully implement circular economy model!
With concern over theories such as peak minerals, constraints on mining such as carbon emissions and higher costs, and an increase in consumer goods requiring rare metals, recycling metals is becoming an increasingly attractive way of fulfilling society's needs. While not denying the dependence of Australia on mining and minerals industry revenue for economic growth, we believe that a better understanding of metal cycles in the economy can provide a pathway to Australia’s leading role in resources stewardship.
Copper Scrap VS Other Metal Scrap
Metal recycling mainly includes copper, aluminium, ferrous, lead, nickel and titanium. Although steel and aluminum is frequently mentioned in Australian metal recycling, copper also plays an important role in the whole industry, for example, the average ‘new’ copper wire contains some 30% recycled material. The more we recycle, the less we need to mine. For copper the energy saving is approx. 60% and for aluminium even 90%. The key determinants of success in this area are the ability to collect metals for recycling at the end of their useful life (old scrap collection rate), the ability to collect the scrap created upon manufacturing of goods (new scrap collection rate), and the efficiency of the recycling process. Of these parameters the most important future improvements should be expected in the old scrap collection rate, which is currently below 50% for both copper and aluminium.
Metal recycling mainly includes copper, aluminium, ferrous, lead, nickel and titanium. Although steel and aluminum is frequently mentioned in Australian metal recycling, copper also plays an important role in the whole industry, for example, the average ‘new’ copper wire contains some 30% recycled material. The more we recycle, the less we need to mine. For copper the energy saving is approx. 60% and for aluminium even 90%. The key determinants of success in this area are the ability to collect metals for recycling at the end of their useful life (old scrap collection rate), the ability to collect the scrap created upon manufacturing of goods (new scrap collection rate), and the efficiency of the recycling process. Of these parameters the most important future improvements should be expected in the old scrap collection rate, which is currently below 50% for both copper and aluminium.
Classification of Scrap Copper Wire
Copper scrap has five general types: scrap copper solids, scrap copper non-solids(turnings, dust, chips, etc.), scrap copper wire, scrap copper breakage(scrap motors, scrap transformers, scrap copper windings) and scrap copper alloy.
Scrap copper wire, as an important part of copper, is worthy of more research. Copper wire scrap also can be divided into five categories:
85% Wire: Thin case with a diameter comparable to a pencil’s. If you have this type of wire, just strip it yourself and get full copper price!
70% Wire: Romex/machine wire without any attachments. Found inside of any type of electronics or appliances
50% Wire: Extension cords and appliance cords
35% Wire: Thinly gauged wire with a considerable degree of attachments. “Communications wire” For example, VGA cables, telephone wires, etc.
10% Wire: Christmas lights
However, most scrap yard do not segregate scrap wire into so many types. This will usually result in just 2 types of categories for you scrap copper wire:
re: Any copper wire with a single layer of insulation.
High Grade Copper Wire: Any copper wire with a single layer of insulation.
Low Grade Copper Wire: Any copper wire with a double layer of insulation.
This is a general guideline. Every scrap yard is different. But one point is same that if you want to get the value of copper, you must remove insulation.
The Most Functional Copper Wire Recycling Machines
There are several options to process copper wire scrap, but burning is never allowed. Not only does it harm the environment from the fumes, but also it will downgrade your scrap yard. While you shouldn’t be burning the wires you are looking to get copper from, you can use some other heat to help you. You can warm your wire in the oven (on low) or in a black box in the sunshine to warm the insulation to make it softer and easier to remove with a handheld stripper or razor blade.
Copper scrap has five general types: scrap copper solids, scrap copper non-solids(turnings, dust, chips, etc.), scrap copper wire, scrap copper breakage(scrap motors, scrap transformers, scrap copper windings) and scrap copper alloy.
Scrap copper wire, as an important part of copper, is worthy of more research. Copper wire scrap also can be divided into five categories:
85% Wire: Thin case with a diameter comparable to a pencil’s. If you have this type of wire, just strip it yourself and get full copper price!
70% Wire: Romex/machine wire without any attachments. Found inside of any type of electronics or appliances
50% Wire: Extension cords and appliance cords
35% Wire: Thinly gauged wire with a considerable degree of attachments. “Communications wire” For example, VGA cables, telephone wires, etc.
10% Wire: Christmas lights
However, most scrap yard do not segregate scrap wire into so many types. This will usually result in just 2 types of categories for you scrap copper wire:
re: Any copper wire with a single layer of insulation.
High Grade Copper Wire: Any copper wire with a single layer of insulation.
Low Grade Copper Wire: Any copper wire with a double layer of insulation.
This is a general guideline. Every scrap yard is different. But one point is same that if you want to get the value of copper, you must remove insulation.
The Most Functional Copper Wire Recycling Machines
There are several options to process copper wire scrap, but burning is never allowed. Not only does it harm the environment from the fumes, but also it will downgrade your scrap yard. While you shouldn’t be burning the wires you are looking to get copper from, you can use some other heat to help you. You can warm your wire in the oven (on low) or in a black box in the sunshine to warm the insulation to make it softer and easier to remove with a handheld stripper or razor blade.
In Australian capital cities, scrap copper is collected by business and local government. They have the ability to buy recycling machine, such as copper wire granulator, or wire stripper machine, to get better effect! Both of these 2 copper wire recycling machines are with high efficiency: wire stripper machine can process copper and aluminum wires. It has a wider application for single-strand and double strand wire within 1-100 mm. As for copper wire granulator, it sells pretty well in developed countries, such as US, UK, Australia. It can satisfy large-scale copper recycling need.
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