Is it possible to recycle rusty iron and steel in Brisbane? You'll find it virtually anywhere; in Brisbane's many backyards, in suburban garages or at any commercial construction site — the familiar flaky, reddish brown stuff that is attacking old metal sheets, disused tools and discarded pipes. Brisbane's coastal climate and humidity are the major source of rust. If you are thinking about a clean up, you may be asking whether local scrap, or junk yards, will even take the rusted and over-oxidized metal.
People often think that if iron or steel rusts, they can't recover the material to make use of it. The fortunate thing is that yes, it's possible to recycle rusty iron and steel scrap. Ferrous metals are very resilient and can be recycled locally without regard to surface oxidation. But rust does pose certain problems, mainly in relation to weight loss and grading that could impact your payout.
This is a detailed account of the effects of rust on the recycling process, what scrap yards check for in ferrous metals, and how you can maximise the value of your rusty iron and steel in Brisbane.
The Science of Rust: Why Scrap Yards Still Buy It
To get the most out of this, it is helpful to have some knowledge of the science of rust and why it still has monetary value. The term rust is used to describe iron oxide. It is the result of oxygen and moisture coming in contact with iron containing metals, usually over a long period of time. Rust is an unsightly and destructive coating that changes the structural strength of the object, but does not change the basic chemical composition of the underlying iron or steel.
The purification is very intense: the scrap is fed into large electric arc furnaces or blast furnaces and melted at temperatures over 1500°C, where the oxygen atoms that separate from the iron are driven off by the chemical reaction, and surface contamination will rise to the top as slag.
The reconstruction phase: the remaining pure, molten iron is poured into new steel beam, rebar, or production plates of the same quality as virgin iron mined from the earth.
Steel is infinitely recyclable without loss in strength, so secondary steel production forms a large part of global infrastructure. The conversion of steel into new products is one of the most energy efficient processes, requiring as much as 75% less energy than it takes to make steel from raw iron ore, so your rusty junk is an integral part of the global circular economy.
Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous: The Distinction for Rusty Loads
When it comes time to load your car up before driving it to a Brisbane scrap yard, there is one critical test you need to perform: ferrous vs. non-ferrous.
Ferrous metals: iron and steel are ferrous (magnetic) metals. They are magnetic, very prone to rust and are usually sold at a cheaper price per kg, due to their abundance.
Non-ferrous metals (non-magnetic):these include metals that have little or no iron content, such as copper, aluminium, brass and stainless steel. They don't rust (although they may corrode or oxidize with a white or green patina), are not magnetic, and have much higher prices. If it is a piece of metal that is heavily rusted on the outside but can't be magnetized, it is probably a piece of metal coated with rust residue from another metal piece nearby that can be magnetized. Separate these, as the non-ferrous items have much more value.
How Rust Affects Your Scrap Yard Payout
Rusty iron and steel will be taken anywhere, but there is a price to the rust on your metal and it costs you in two major ways at your scrap yard.
1. Weight penalty of severe rust:scrap yards pay based on weight (usually per metric tonne or per 100kg). The more severe your rust, the more metal is going to flake away — that's why rust is a literal loss in weight. A steel beam left in a damp yard for 10 years can leave an appreciable portion of its original weight on the ground, reducing the total payout.
2. Grading by thickness and density:heavy melting steel (HMS) refers to heavy industrial beams, structural beams and parts of heavy machinery. It is very dense, so it offers the best ferrous rates, and will still be given a premium HMS grade if it has light surface rust. Light or domestic scrap — whitegoods, roofing iron, tin sheeting and wire fencing — is thinner material that degrades quickly during melting once rusted through, leading to poor structural yield and the lowest ferrous rates. You don't need to wire brush rust off old iron sheets before you bring them in for scrap metal pickup; the furnace will handle it on its own.
For the protection of profits, there are very basic preparation steps to follow:
Empty out standing water: drain rusty drums, pipes and cast-iron bathtubs before loading. Since water adds illegitimate weight, scrap yards will inspect containers. Remove all standing water first for an accurate measurement and to prevent penalties.
Don't mix thin iron with heavy steel: keep heavy car axles or beams away from thin rusted corrugated roofing iron so the heavy items can be graded at the higher rate at the yard, following the same 5-minute sorting rule that applies to every load.
Unscrew or break off non-metal attachments: steel sheets with rusty non-metal, wooden fence posts or concrete blocks attached should be broken or unscrewed before loading. If the weight of the non-metals is too large, weight will be deducted from the total or a handling fee may be charged.
Dealing With Rusty Iron & Steel?
Is there old, rusted roofing iron, heavy steel beams or old farm appliances filling up vital space on your property? Don't put strain on your own car, truck or SUV, when they are already heavy enough with rusty, heavy, sharp metal. Give the professionals at Brisbane Metal Recyclers the clearance job. Whether you're clearing a residential, commercial or industrial demolition site, or a vast amount of farm-run waste at your rural property, our general scrap pickup fleet can load and transport your waste materials across Brisbane for free in bulk quantities.
Brisbane Metal Recyclers quotes very competitive, fair market rates per tonne for iron and steel. Following Queensland's scrap metal laws, payouts are made by fast and secure electronic funds transfer (EFT) straight to your bank account as the materials leave your site. Ready to clear it out? Book your rusty scrap collection today.