FEB 20, 2026
Selling scrap metal to a trusted scrap yard can be a great way to earn extra money and play your role in protecting the environment. Most people who sell their scrap metal just want the items gone and never bother to know what happens thereafter.
But what happens to metal after it’s dropped off at a local scrap yard? Is it melted in furnaces? Is it sorted and reused for other things? Is it stored in the scrap yard or shipped elsewhere? These are common questions that curious scrappers ask, and we’re here to provide you with answers. At RCM Recycling, we pride ourselves on offering hassle-free scrap metal recycling services.
Once your metal arrives at the scrap yard, it’s carefully sorted and graded. Different types of metal must be separated because each material has unique recycling processes and market values.
Scrap yards use magnets, visual inspections, and sometimes advanced technology like spectrometers to identify and classify metals. Ferrous metals are separated using large industrial magnets, while non-ferrous metals like copper and aluminum are sorted manually or with specialized equipment.
Grading is important because cleaner, uncontaminated metals command higher prices and are easier to recycle.
After sorting, the metal is cleaned to remove impurities like plastic, rubber, insulation, or other attached materials. For example, copper wiring may be stripped of insulation, and steel components may be cleared of attached debris.
The scrap is then processed into smaller, more manageable pieces. Large items like appliances, vehicles, or structural steel may be crushed, shredded, or cut using industrial shears. Shredding reduces the metal into small fragments, making it easier to melt and transport. This step increases efficiency and prepares the metal for the next phase in the recycling chain.
Once processed, the sorted metal is transported to specialized recycling facilities or metal mills. Scrap metal buyers often act as collection and processing hubs, while large-scale melting and manufacturing occur at dedicated plants.
Because metal recycling is a global industry, processed scrap may be shipped domestically or internationally, depending on market demand.
At the scrap metal recycling facility, the metal is placed into large furnaces designed specifically for the type of metal being processed. Each metal has its own melting point, so the equipment and temperatures vary accordingly.
Melting scrap metal requires less energy than producing new metal from raw ore. For example, recycling aluminum uses up to 95% less energy than mining and refining new aluminum from bauxite ore. This energy savings is one of the biggest environmental benefits of scrap recycling.
After melting, the molten metal is purified to remove remaining impurities. This ensures the recycled material meets quality standards for manufacturing.
Once purified, the molten metal is poured into molds to form bars, sheets, rods, or other shapes. These standardized forms are then sold to manufacturers.
From there, recycled metal can be turned into a wide range of products, including:
In many cases, recycled metal is indistinguishable in quality from newly mined metal.
Are you looking for dependable scrap metal buyers? Look no further than RCM Recycling. Whether you have a few recyclable items sitting around your home or loads of construction materials left over from a project, our team is standing by to make every scrapping experience simple and rewarding. We offer competitive prices for scrap metal, accept a wide range of metals, and offer a hassle-free recycling experience. For more information on how we work and how we can help you turn your scrap metal into cash, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you.
