Report says steel recycling rates reached record high

Overall steel recycling rates have reached a record high, according to the Steel Recycling Institute.
In its report released Dec. 11, SRI said the steel recycling rate reached 83.3% for 2008 as 82 million tons of domestic steel scrap was used to make new steel products in the U.S. and abroad.

The institute compiles the recycling rate on data collected from scrap processors, steel producers, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. EPA.

"All new steel made in the North America contains a minimum of 28% steel scrap with some processes using upwards of 90% steel scrap to make new steel," said Bill Heenan, SRI President. "Steel continues to be recycled at a higher volume than paper, plastic, glass, copper and aluminum combined, and the steel can still holds the distinction of being food´s and beverage´s most recycled container."

According to the report, more than 1.5 million tons of steel containers were recycled in 2008 at a rate of 65.2%, while more than 14.8 million tons of steel was recycled from automobiles at a rate of 106%. Recycling rates for automobiles are often near or over 100 percent as older vehicles being recycled are often heavier than new cars which are more fuel efficient through use of advanced high-strength steels, which are now available to automobile manufacturers.

Appliance recycling rates remained stable at 90% as did structural steel at 97.5%, while construction reinforcement steel increased slightly to 70%, according to the report.

The SRI estimates for every ton of steel recycled, 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved.

source Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch  http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/rss2.html?id=1260892133