The Isri Scrap Yearbook 2012 Final

THE ISRI SCRAP YEARBOOK 2012
The ISRI Scrap Yearbook
2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary About ISRI About the Scrap Recycling Industry Scrap Recycling and the Economy Domestic Scrap Recycling Facilities U.S. Scrap Exports Scrap Recycling and the Environment Recycling and Energy Savings What Materials Can Be Recycled? Iron and Steel Scrap Where Does Ferrous Scrap Come From? U.S. Ferrous Scrap Supply How Is Ferrous Scrap Processed? How Is Ferrous Scrap Transported in the U.S.? Who Uses Ferrous Scrap? Ferrous Scrap Exports Global Demand for Ferrous Scrap Ferrous Scrap Life Cycle: From Cars to Bridges Nonferrous Metal Scrap Aluminum Scrap Aluminum Scrap Exports 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Life Cycle of the Aluminum Can U.S. Aluminum Beverage Can Recycling Copper Scrap Copper and Copper Alloys Copper Scrap Exports The Flow of Copper Nickel and Stainless Steel Scrap Lead and Zinc Scrap Lead and Zinc Scrap Exports Recovered Paper and Fiber Paper Grades Recovered Paper Exports Recovered Paper Life Cycle Plastic Scrap Plastic Scrap Exports Electronics Scrap Outputs of Electronics Recycling in the United States Scrap Tires Recycled Glass Textiles Appendix: Global Scrap Exports by Commodity, Volume and Value, 2011 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 37 39 40 42 43 45 46 47
All photos courtesy of Scrap magazine. Special thanks to Bureau of International Recycling, The Jason Project, the International Copper Study Group, the American Forest & Paper Association, the Aluminum Association, the Can Manufacturers Institute, NAPCOR and the Council for Textile Recycling. 2012 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
2012
Executive Summary
The ISRI Scrap Yearbook 2012 is the most up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the scrap recycling industry in the United States. The yearbook not only includes useful information about the economic and environmental benefits associated with scrap recycling, but also provides readers with commodityspecific overviews of how scrap is generated, processed, traded and used. In addition, the yearbook contains practical examples of the life cycles and material flows of key recycled goods and commodities. The yearbook is intended as a valuable resource both for members of the scrap industry and related sectors as well as for those looking to learn more about our industry. Teachers and students, policymakers, members of the press and the general public can benefit from learning more about how the scrap recycling industry provides manufacturers with vital and cost-efficient raw materials, while at the same time supporting thousands of good-paying jobs and conserving our natural resources. 2 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. The initial section of the yearbook provides readers with an introduction to ISRI, followed by selected economic and environmental-related highlights. For example, in 2011 alone the U.S. scrap recycling industry processed approximately 135 million metric tons of scrap commodities valued at $100 billion while directly and indirectly supporting nearly 460,000 jobs. Subsequent sections provide commodity-specific data and information across a range of scrap commodities, including recycled iron and steel, nonferrous metals, paper, plastics, electronics, tires, glass and textiles. The yearbook appendix breaks down global scrap exports by commodity, volume and value for 2011. Data for the yearbook were provided by U.S. government agencies, international sources (including the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database), other industry associations, independent studies and ISRI estimates. For more information about ISRI and the scrap recycling industry, visit the ISRI website at www.isri.org.
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About ISRI
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) was formed by the merger of two parent organizations in 1987: the National Association of Recycling Industries (NARI) and the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel (ISIS), both of which traced their roots to the early 1900s. Today, ISRI represents more than 1,700 member companies that process, broker and consume scrap metals, paper, plastics, glass, electronics, textiles, tires and rubber. ISRI members range in size from small-family owned operations, many of which have been in business for generations, to large multinational corporations. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., ISRI provides education, advocacy, and compliance training and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development.
3 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
For more information about ISRI, visit our website at www.isri.org.
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About the Scrap Recycling Industry

From the earliest uses of scrap thousands of years ago to the optical scanners, X-rays and air jets separating materials in todays high-tech shredders, scrap recycling has evolved as a major industry. As the original recyclers, for decades and indeed, centuries the scrap recycling industry in the United States has been purchasing, processing and brokering old materials to be remade into new products. The scrap industry is truly the first link in the supply chain, serving as the backbone for Americas manufacturing sector while simultaneously promoting a more sustainable society. Today, the U.S. scrap recycling industry is a sophisticated, capital-intensive industry that directly employs approximately 138,000 people. As society increasingly focuses on the need to protect our natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the scrap recycling industry is recognized as one of the worlds first green industries while serving as an economic leader, job creator, major exporter and environmental steward. See below for more information about how the scrap recycling industry generates sizable economic and environmental benefits.
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Scrap Recycling and the Economy

Recycling goes far, far beyond the bin at the edge of the curb. In fact, in 2011 alone nearly 135 million metric tons of scrap metal, paper, plastic, glass, textiles, rubber and electronics valued at approximately $100 billion were manufactured into specification-grade commodities by the U.S. scrap recycling industry. These commodities were sold as valuable feedstock material to industrial consumers in the United States and in more than 160 countries around the world.
The scrap industry is also a job creator. According to a recent study by John Dunham & Associates, U.S. scrap processors and brokers directly employed nearly 138,000 people in 2011. Including jobs indirectly supported by the industry, the Dunham study shows the scrap industry supported a total of 459,100 jobs last year. These workers earned more than $26.1 billion in wages and benefits, while the industry paid $10.3 billion in direct federal, state and local taxes, excluding state and local sales taxes. 5 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
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Domestic Scrap Recycling Facilities
Source: John Dunham & Associates, 2011
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U.S. Scrap Exports

As the United States annually generates more scrap than it is able to consume domestically, overseas demand for U.S. scrap provides a useful outlet while at the same time scrap export sales significantly benefit the U.S. trade balance. According to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. International Trade Commission, the United States exported more than 51 million metric tons of scrap commodities valued at more than $39 billion in 2011. Ferrous scrap and recovered paper exports represent the bulk of the volume of overseas shipments, accounting for approximately 45 million metric tons combined, while nonferrous and precious metal scrap have some of the highest per-unit scrap values. Major overseas destinations for U.S. scrap last year included China ($11.5 billion), Canada ($3.7 billion), Turkey ($2.4 billion), South Korea ($2.1 billion) and Taiwan ($1.9 billion).
2010 Value of Scrap Commodities

Metric Tons of Scrap Exports Included: Iron and Steel (exStainless and Alloys) Paper Aluminum Plastic Nickel, Stainless & Alloy Copper Lead Zinc Rubber $29.6 Billion 45.3 Million 18.7 Million 18.9 Million 1.9 Million 2.0 Million 1.9 Million 1.0 Million 44,000 78,000 172,000
2011
$39.2 Billion 51.7 Million 22.7 Million 21.1 Million 2.1 Million 2.1 Million 1.6 Million 1.2 Million 31,000 86,000 135,000
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Scrap Recycling and the Environment

Scrap recycling offers real sustainable solutions for balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship. While market fundamentals provide the incentives to recycle and consume scrap material, recycling has numerous positive externalities, including significant environmental benefits. Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions by significantly saving the amount of energy needed to manufacture the products that we buy, build and use. In addition to energy savings, recycling reduces the amount of
material that would otherwise be sent to landfills, saving land for more productive uses. Recycling also reduces the need to mine for new ore or cut down more trees to make our products. The scrap industry takes the job of environmental stewardship extremely seriously.
Did you know?

Energy saved using recycled materials is up to: 92% for aluminum 90% for copper 87% for plastic 68% for paper 56% for steel 34% for glass
Recycling 1 ton of:

Paper saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. Steel conserves 2,500 lbs. of iron ore, 1,400 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs. of limestone. Aluminum conserves more than 5 metric tons of bauxite ore and 14 megawatt hours of electricity.
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Recycling and Energy Savings
Sources: BIR, U.S. EPA Durable Goods Calculator, WARM Calculator
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What Materials Can Be Recycled?

The scrap recycling industry is extremely innovative, continually adapting to the new products that enter the marketplace every day. While in the early days of the industry, scrap peddlers would typically buy and trade relatively small quantities of used household and other goods, today the U.S. scrap industry annually processes more than 130 million metric tons of scrap metal, recovered paper, plastic scrap, used electronics and other scrap commodities generated by the manufacturing process and end-of-life products. For more commodity-specific information on how scrap is recovered, processed, traded and used, please see below.
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Iron and Steel Scrap

Ferrous scrap is a vital raw material for the production of new steel and cast iron products. Approximately two out of every three pounds of steel made in the U.S. is made using ferrous scrap. Where Does Ferrous Scrap Come From? Iron and steel scrap, also referred to as ferrous scrap, comes from two main sources: obsolete scrap and prompt scrap. Obsolete ferrous scrap is recovered from automobiles, steel structures, household appliances, railroad tracks, ships, farm equipment and other sources. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the primary source of old steel scrap in the U.S. is the automobile, with more than 13.5 million tons of ferrous scrap recycled from automobiles in 2010. In addition, prompt scrap, which is generated from the manufacturing process, accounts for approximately half of the ferrous scrap supply. Home or runaround scrap, which is also generated by manufacturing, is typically consumed at the same mill at which it is generated and
therefore is not usually processed by the scrap recycling industry.
Today, ferrous scrap is the most recycled material in the United States and worldwide. In the United States alone, 74 million metric tons of ferrous scrap was processed by the scrap recycling industry last year: more than 55% of the volume of all domestically processed scrap.
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U.S. Ferrous Scrap Supply Thanks in part to our significant manufacturing base and developed economy, the U.S. already has a large inventory of ferrous scrap in place, in addition to the prompt scrap that is continually being generated by manufacturing. A recent study commissioned by ISRI reports that the U.S. obsolete scrap inventory as of December 31, 2009 stood at nearly 1.2 billion tons. As a result, the U.S. supply of ferrous scrap is more than adequate to meet the growing demand for scrap both at home and overseas.
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How Is Ferrous Scrap Processed? While a small proportion of unprepared obsolete ferrous scrap can be directly used by consumers, the vast majority of purchased iron and steel scrap is sorted and processed by the scrap recycling industry. Scrapyards use a variety of processes including sorting, shearing, shredding, torching and baling to sort and prepare ferrous scrap to commodity-grade specifications. The process of shredding, which was developed in the late 1950s, allows for whole cars, appliances and other end-of-life products to be quickly shredded into fist-size pieces of metal, greatly increasing scrap processors ability to
handle large items and to separate nonferrous material. In 2011, more than 340 shredders were in operation in North America, up from just 120 shredders in the early 1970s. In addition to shredded, ferrous scrap can be grouped by prime scrap (including busheling, bundles and clips), cut grades such and heavy melting steel, and foundry and miscellaneous grades such as machinery cast. To assist members with the buying and selling of their materials, ISRI has developed standard specifications for scrap commodities including over 100 ferrous scrap specifications. ISRIs specs are regularly updated and published in the ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular. For more information, visit www.isri.org/specs.
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How Is Ferrous Scrap Transported in the U.S.?

The three most common modes of domestic transport of ferrous scrap in the U.S. are by truck, rail and barge, with intermodal shipments using more than one mode. While shipping via trucks can be a high per-unit cost option, trucks are a significant mode of domestic transport for ferrous scrap, especially for intra-regional scrap flows. Shipment by rail can be a less costly option per ton than trucking and railcars have a greater tonnage capacity than trucks, although during times of tight railcar availability this mode of transport can be less predictable. According to figures from the Association of American Railroads, more than 240,000 carloads of iron and steel scrap were originated by major railroads in the U.S. in 2011, a 6.8% increase over 2010. Barges and domestic waterborne shipments are a third major mode of transport for ferrous scrap. Although adverse weather conditions can significantly impact barge traffic, barges are often the lowest-cost option on a per unit basis. According 14 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
to figures from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, more than 7.3 million short tons of domestic iron and steel scrap were transported on U.S. waterways in 2010, the latest year of available data.
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Who Uses Ferrous Scrap? In recent years, approximately 70 percent of the ferrous scrap processed in the United States has been consumed domestically, with the remaining 30 percent exported. Scrap dealers and brokers sell ferrous scrap to steel mills, foundries and other industrial consumers to produce new steel and cast iron products. USGS data show that of the 56 million tons of domestically consumed ferrous scrap last year, electric furnaces consumed 44.5 million tons, basic oxygen process steelworks accounted for 8.8 million tons, and blast furnaces consumed 2.3 million tons.
By grade, shredded scrap is the single largest grade of domestically consumed ferrous scrap, accounting 25 percent of total scrap usage:
U.S. Consumption of Iron and Steel Scrap, by Grade, 2011 (thousand metric tons) Cut structural and plate 4,480 No. 1 heavy melting steel 5,710 No. 2 heavy melting steel 6,290 No. 1 and electric furnace bundles 3,230 No. 2 and all other bundles 997 Railroad rails 303 Turnings and borings 2,310 Slag scrap 1,490 Shredded and fragmentized 14,100 No. 1 busheling 4,610 Steel cans (post consumer) 112 All other carbon steel scrap 6,440 Stainless steel scrap 1,300 Alloy steel scrap 736 Other scrap 3,740 TOTAL 56,000 Source: U.S. Geological Survey
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Ferrous Scrap Exports

The United States is the worlds leading exporter of ferrous scrap. A key development in the global trade of scrap was the introduction of containerized scrap shipments, which opened the export market to a far wider range of domestic scrap processors. Including stainless steel and other alloy steel scrap, the U.S. exported over 24.3 million tons of ferrous scrap valued at more than $11 billion to around 90 countries last year. Major overseas markets include Turkey, China, India, Taiwan and South Korea:
Source: Bureau of International Recycling
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Global Demand for Ferrous Scrap As iron and steel scrap has become a key feedstock utilized in manufacturing new products worldwide, the ferrous scrap market has become increasingly global. Ferrous scrap is now a world-traded commodity that becomes less dependent on local supplies and markets every day, moving to where demand directs it regardless of its original location. Trade data from the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database show that the volume of global scrap exports surged from just 9.3 million metric tons in 1990 to a record of more than 106 million metric tons in 2011. In addition, figures from the Bureau of International Recycling show that total world steel scrap use increased 7.6% in 2011 to reach 570 million metric tons.
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Ferrous Scrap Life Cycle: From Cars to Bridges
Old Cars Can Become a New Bridge

The steel in cars can be recycled and used to build other items, like bridges. Did you know: Recycling one car saves more than 2,500 lbs. or iron ore, 1,400 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs. of limestone? Steel is the most recycled material in the United States. On average, the U.S. processes enough ferrous scrap daily, by weight, to build 25 Eiffel Towers every day of the year. Recycling steel requires 60% less energy than producing steel from iron ore. By using ferrous scrap rather than virgin materials in the production of iron and steel, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 58%.
Sources: The Jason Project/ISRI 18 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
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Nonferrous Metal Scrap

Nonferrous metals, including aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, zinc and others, are among the few materials that do not degrade or lose their chemical or physical properties in the recycling process. As a result, nonferrous metals have the capacity to be recycled an infinite number of times. While in terms of volume, nonferrous scrap makes up around one quarter of the total quantity of material recycled in the United States, by value nonferrous metal scrap including precious metal scrap accounted for nearly 70 percent of total U.S. scrap recycling industry earnings in 2011. More than 9 million metric tons of nonferrous scrap was processed in the United States last year from a wide array of consumer, commercial and industrial sources:
everything from copper and precious metal circuitry in electronic devices, to soft-drink containers, automobile batteries and radiators, aluminum siding, airplane parts and more. Nonferrous scrap is then consumed by secondary smelters, refiners, ingot makers, foundries and other industrial consumers in the U.S. and in more than 100 countries worldwide. These consumers rely on nonferrous scrap as a competitive, environmentally friendly and energyefficient input to make brand new products, continuing the nonferrous metal life cycle.
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Aluminum Scrap Aluminum holds the distinction of being both the youngest and the most widely used among all the base nonferrous metals in the U.S. In 2011, USGS figures show aluminum recovered from purchased scrap in the United States was about 3 million metric tons, of which about 54% came from new (manufacturing) scrap and 46% from old scrap (discarded aluminum products).
USGS figures also show that secondary smelters were the largest consumers of domestically purchased aluminum scrap last year, recovering over 1.6 million metric tons of aluminum by metallic content, followed by independent mill fabricators (1.3 million metric tons), foundries (53,000 metric tons) and other consumers (8,000 metric tons). The U.S. Aluminum Market
Domestic Scrap Consumption (mt) 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 3,750,000 3,320,000 3,000,000 2,700,000 3,020,000 Apparent Aluminum Consumption (mt) 7,484,000 6,408,000 5,697,000 5,053,000 5,520,000 Scrap Market Share 50% 52% 53% 53% 54% U.S. Scrap Exports (mt) 1,546,000 1,982,000 1,658,000 1,913,000 2,144,000
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Aluminum Scrap Exports

Given the tremendous energy savings associated with using aluminum scrap which can reach up to 92% compared with primary metal, global demand for aluminum scrap has been rising sharply in recent years. U.S. exports of aluminum scrap including used beverage containers and remelt scrap ingot increased 12% by volume last year to more than 2.1 million metric tons. China was the largest overseas customer, accounting for 68% of the export total. By value, U.S. aluminum scrap exports jumped 27% higher to more than $4 billion in 2011 a record.
*Includes UBCs and Remelt Scrap Ingot.
*Includes UBCs and RSI.
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Life Cycle of the Aluminum Can
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Sources: Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute, ISRI
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Copper Scrap
Copper was one of the first metals used by humanity, with archaeological evidence indicating its use more than 10,000 years ago. Today, copper remains a vital commodity used in construction, electrical equipment, transportation, consumer goods and other products. Copper scrap is used at smelters and refineries to produce refined copper and is used at the semi-fabrication stage to produce copper rods, bars, wire and other semi-fabricated shapes, which are transformed into power cables, plumbing tubes and other end-use products. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, in 2011 old scrap provided 130,000 metric tons of copper and purchased new scrap derived from fabricating operations contributed 650,000 metric tons of contained copper.
Major consumers of copper and copper alloy scrap in the United States last year included brass mills (73%), foundries, chemical plants and miscellaneous manufacturers (13%) ingot makers (9%) and copper smelters and refiners (5%). Globally, the International Copper Study Group estimates that in recent years more than 30 percent of world copper usage came from recycled copper scrap.
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Copper and Copper Alloys

There are literally hundreds of different types of copper and copper alloys that use tin, lead, zinc and other metals to form metal alloys. These metals can be subdivided into several main categories including: Coppers High-copper alloys Brasses Bronzes Copper Nickels Copper-nickel-zinc alloys Leaded coppers Special alloys ISRI specifications with names like Berry, Birch/Cliff, Druid, Honey, Ocean and Pales cover a wide range of red metal products such as bare and insulated wire, light copper, refinery brass, red brass, yellow brass, brass ammunition, clippings, radiators, tubes and more. For the full listing of ISRI nonferrous specifications, visit www.isri.org/specs.
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Copper Scrap Exports

Due to the plentiful supply of copper scrap in the United States as confirmed by research conducted by Nathan & Associates in 2004 the U.S. is able to export significant tonnages of copper scrap overseas. In 2011, the U.S. exported more than 1.2 million metric tons of copper scrap valued at nearly $5 billion, a remarkable increase from the $500 million of copper scrap exported in 2000. As with other commodities, China is a significant consumer of U.S. copper and copper alloy scrap. The value of copper scrap exports from the U.S. to China jumped from approximately $165 million in 2000 to nearly $3.5 billion last year.
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The Flow of Copper

Trade Concentrates/ Matte Blister/ Anode Refined Copper Alloy Ingot Alloy Metals Semis Net Trade
Mining
Production Wire rod SX/EW Refined Usage
Fabrication Wire rod plant / Wire mill Brass mill Foundry Chemicals Semis Supply
Mine
Smelter
Refinery New Scrap Low Grade Residues
Tailings
By-products/ slag/ashes
Other Plants
Scrap Recycling
Scrap for Smelting incl. low grade
Scrap for Refining
Hydromet. Plant
Direct Melt 987 refined
Ingot Maker scrap alloys
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Semis Import
Finished Products
Net Trade
EOL Products
(EOL Management adjusted for export/reuse after collection)

End-of-Life Management
Manufacture
Construction Product Supply

E&E Equipment
Product Use (Lifetime)
C&D Finished Products Copper Reservoir in Use

EOL Products INEW
Ind. equipment Transport Consumer/ Gen. Other Uses Low grade from Fabr.
Recycling losses new scrap
IEW Abandoned/ Stored/ Reused End-of-Life Products ELV WEEE MSW & Other
Dissipative Uses
Disposal/ Other Uses
Recycling New Scrap

Recycling
Old Scrap
Scrap & Low grade Net Trade
Other Metal Loops
Source: International Copper Study Group

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Nickel and Stainless Steel Scrap

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, nickel is a transition element that exhibits a mixture of nonferrous and ferrous metal properties. In metal circles, its much less common for nickel to be examined on its own than as an element of corrosionresistant alloys such as austenitic stainless steel. And no wonder: 18-8 varieties of stainless steel (named for their 18% chromium and 8% nickel content) account for large quantities of nickel consumption and also serve as an important scrap source for nickel. USGS figures show that 46% of the primary nickel consumed in the U.S. last year went into stainless and alloy steel production, followed by nonferrous 29 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
alloys and superalloys (34%), electroplating (14%) and other uses (6%). By end use, the most important consuming sectors include transportation (30%), fabricated metal products (14%), electrical equipment (12%), the petroleum industry (10%), and chemicals, construction, household appliances and industrial machinery at 8% each. The process of recycling stainless steel scrap can include numerous steps, including sorting, baling, shearing, media separation and melting.
The U.S. Nickel Market

Nickel Recovered From Scrap (mt) 98,600 84,500 63,500 100,000 99,000 Total U.S. Nickel Usage (mt) 212,000 201,000 173,000 217,000 228,000 Scrap Market Share (%) 47% 42% 37% 46% 43% Stainless Steel Scrap Exports 882,000 1,001,000 1,131,000 937,000 656,000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Sources: USGS, Census Bureau, ISRI Estimates
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Lead and Zinc Scrap

Zinc and lead are the two most widely used nonferrous metals after aluminum and copper. Leads emergence as an important industrial metal dates from the development of storage battery technology in the mid-19th century. The recycling of automotive-type batteries spawned a viable secondary lead smelting industry in the United States. In 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey reports that lead-acid batteries accounted for 86% of domestic lead use in 2011.
Other uses of lead include rolled and extruded products, shot and ammunition, alloys, pigments and compounds and cable sheathing. USGS figures show that approximately 1.2 million metric tons of secondary lead was produced in the U.S. last year an amount equivalent to 80% of apparent domestic lead consumption, of which the vast majority was recovered from postconsumer scrap.
The U.S. Lead Industry

Secondary Apparent Lead Lead Production Consumption (mt) (mt) 1,180,000 1,540,000 1,150,000 1,500,000 1,120,000 1,410,000 1,150,000 1,500,000 1,200,000 1,500,000 Scrap Market Share 77% 77% 79% 77% 80% U.S. Scrap Exports (mt) 129,000 175,000 140,000 44,000 31,000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Sources: USGS, US Census Bureau, ISRI estimates
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According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, the principal uses for zinc include galvanizing (50%), zinc alloying (17%), brass and bronze (17%), zinc semis (6%), chemicals (6%) and other uses (4%). In the United States, USGS figures show that about 53% (or 134,000 metric tons) of the slab zinc produced in the United States was recovered from secondary materials. Drosses from galvanizing, skimmings, ashes, and die castings make up the bulk of feedstock for zinc recycling. Steelmaking dusts and zinc-coated steel scrap, however, remain rich sources of recoverable zinc.
Prices for scrap zinc, such as galvanizing drosses, are normally quoted as a percentage of the LME price. Other scrap items such as die cast are quoted in cents per pound.
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Lead and Zinc Scrap Exports

Over the course of the last decade, the volume of U.S. zinc scrap exports more than tripled from nearly 27,000 mt in 2001 to more than 85,000 mt valued at almost $94 million in 2011. Leading zinc scrap destinations last year included China ($74 million), Japan ($7.5 million), India ($6 million), and Taiwan ($3 million). In contrast, the volume of lead scrap exports plunged more than 70% during the same time period to just over 31 million mt last year valued at $36.7 million. Leading overseas destinations for U.S. lead scrap in 2011 included South Korea ($13.1 million), India ($9.6 million), Canada ($8.5 million), China ($1.3 million) and the Netherlands ($1.2 million)
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Recovered Paper and Fiber

Recovered fiber, also known as recovered paper and board, is one of the most widely recycled materials in the world. Since 1990, Americans have recycled about 1 billion tons of recovered fiber as the recovery rate for paper and paperboard in the United States nearly doubled to reach 66.8% in 2011, according to the American Forest & Paper Association. The paper recycling segment of the scrap recycling industry collects, sorts and processes the recovered fiber into specificationgrade products that were valued at more than $9 billion in 2011.
These products are sold and transported to paper mills at home and worldwide for production into new packaging, office paper, tissue, newsprint and a multitude of other paper products. In the United States, approximately 77% of paper mills rely on recovered fiber to make some or all of their products thanks in part to recovered papers significant cost and energy savings. The U.S. Paper and Recovered Fiber Industry New Supply Recovered Recovery (short tons) (short tons) Rate 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 97,007,000 89,838,000 78,902,000 81,209,000 78,959,000 54,325,000 51,822,000 50,036,000 51,545,000 52,767,000 56% 58% 63% 63% 67%
Source: American Forest & Paper Association
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Paper Grades
Recovered paper can be grouped into several main categories including: OCC: An acronym for old corrugated containers, OCC contains a rippled middle layer that is sandwiched between two layers of linerboard. Mills use old corrugated containers to make new recycledcontent shipping boxes, as well as recycled paperboard for product packaging. ONP: Before your daily newspaper becomes old newspaper, or ONP, that is ready for recycling, it goes through several name changes. It begins life as newsprint, defined as the paper purchased and used by newspaper publishers. Once printed, it is called newspaper, which is shipped to distributors and newsstands. Only after being distributed to 34 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
customers does it become ONP. Mills primarily use ONP to make new newsprint and in recycled paperboard and tissue, among other grades. Mixed paper: Mixed paper is a broad category that often includes items such as discarded mail, telephone books, paperboard, magazines, and catalogs. High-Grade Deinked Paper: This grade is made of high grade paper such as letterhead, copier paper, envelopes, and printer and converter scrap that has gone through the printing process. It must first be deinked before it can be reprocessed into high-grade paper products such as printing and writing papers or tissue. Pulp substitutes: Also high-grade papers, pulp substitutes are often shavings and clippings from converting operations at paper mills and print shops. Mills can use pulp substitutes in place of virgin materials to make high-grade paper products.
Sources: ISRI and EPA
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Recovered Paper Exports

In addition to being consumed by domestic paper mills, the paper and fiber recovered in the U.S. helps to meet growing export demand as well. In 2011, recovered paper exports from the U.S. reached $3.8 billion, up 14% from 2010 and double the 2005 total. Last years biggest customers for recovered paper and fiber shipments included China ($2.28 billion), Mexico ($315 million), India ($302 million), Korea ($223 million) and Canada ($194 million). U.S. Paper Stock Exports (short tons) Corrugated High-Grade Deinking Mixed Printed News Pulp Substitutes Other
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Jan-Dec 2011 10,321,992 661,454 4,576,713 2,415,581 2,168,263 3,110,487
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Recovered Paper Life Cycle
According to estimates reported by the Bureau of International Recycling, paper can be recycled an average of four to six times. Steps involved in the paper recycling process can include sorting, baling, shredding, washing, bleaching, pressing and rolling. Newspapers go through a paper recycling process so that trees dont have to be chopped down to make new paper. Did you know that recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees, 79 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space?
Sources: BIR, The Jason Project, ISRI
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Plastic Scrap
The manufacture and distribution of plastics is everywhere. Between 1950 and 2009, the global production of plastics grew at an average rate of 9 percent annually, and all indications point to continued growth at a similar rate. With the explosive growth in the manufacture of plastics comes the need to ensure that these materials are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner once they reach the end of their useful lives. In addition, recycling of engineered and industrial plastics present tremendous opportunities that demonstrate plastics recycling today is Bigger Than the Bin.
From an environmental perspective, recycled plastic can provide enormous benefits over the use of its virgin counterparts. For example, plastic lumber made with scrap plastic bags, and other materials, conserves trees and eliminates the need to use hazardous chemicals to treat wood that will be used outdoors. According to the U.S. EPA, plastic recycling results in significant energy savings (an estimated 50 million to 75 million Btus/ton of material recycled) compared with production of new plastics using virgin materials.
2012
U.S. Postconsumer PET Container Bottle Recycling Activity, 2001 - 2011
While one can picture so much opportunity for growth in plastics recycling, many challenges exist, ranging from the false perception by many that recycled materials are somehow inferior to virgin materials to archaic laws and regulations that never contemplated the possibility of recycling plastics. In addition to these operational challenges, a patchwork of state laws and a lack of direction from industry stakeholders make the collection and recycling of scrap plastic difficult. These challenges are not insurmountable, and plastic recyclers are providing leadership to overcome them. The next time you tote that box to the curb, remember that plastics recycling is much bigger than the bin!
Source: NAPCOR
But despite the ubiquity of plastics, plastic recycling is still a young industry because no one really thought about recycling when plastics were first put into use. The technology to cost-effectively sort and recycle plastics has been developed only in the past 20 years.
2012
Plastic Scrap Exports

U.S. Census Bureau data show the value of plastic scrap exports from the U.S. surpassed the $1 billion mark in 2011 for the first time. Full year 2011 shipments were up 4% over 2010 to $1.05 billion. By volume, plastic scrap exports also advanced, increasing 4% to 2.1 million mt.
Census figures show the top five overseas markets for U.S. plastic scrap last year were: China ($547 million), Hong Kong (counted separately from China, $240 million), Canada ($94 million), India ($48 million) and (Mexico $17 million).
2012
Electronics Scrap
The U.S. electronics recycling industry has shown tremendous growth in recent years. This maturing segment of the scrap industry generates revenues of approximately $5 billion (up from less than $1 billion in 2002) and employs more than 30,000 full-time workers according to a recent IDC study.
Last year, the U.S. electronics recycling industry processed 3 million to 4 million tons of used and end-of-life electronics equipment. More than 70 percent of the collected equipment is manufactured into specification-grade commodities including scrap steel, aluminum, copper, lead, circuit boards, plastics and glass. These valuable commodities are then sold to basic material manufacturers in the United States and globally as raw material feedstock for new products, such as steel, copper, aluminum, plastic and glass. Electronics recyclers repair, refurbish and resell functioning electronics equipment as used products into domestic and international markets. Companies also provide a number of logistical services, like collection, storage and transportation, as well as scrubbing hard drives of sensitive personal and commercial data.
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The industry is driven by equipment collected from businesses and commercial interests, comprising up to 75% of the market on a volume basis. The electronics recycling industry is poised to meet the anticipated increased demand for more used products and specification-grade commodities, with companies currently operating at about 50% of their operational capabilities. The electronics recycling industry has seen a dramatic increase in the use of third-party certifications. The marketplace is pushing electronics recyclers to become certified to programs like ISRIs R2/RIOS program
(www.isri.org/certifyme) to improve operational controls, meet customer demands and secure a competitive advantage. The reuse of used electronics equipment and consumption of commodity-grade materials recovered from electronics to manufacture new products boosts the U.S. economy, creates jobs and sustains natural resources, conserves impressive amounts of energy in the manufacturing process and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from those facilities.
2012
Outputs of Electronics Recycling in the United States

(by weight %)
Source: IDC Survey: Inside the Electronics Recycling Industry (2011)
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2012
Scrap Tires
Each year, the American public generates approximately 300 million scrap tires. In the past, scrap tires generated when an old, worn tire is replaced with a new tire were often dumped illegally in lakes, abandoned lots, along the side of the road and in sensitive habitats. Today, scrap tires are playing a much different role as an important part of the manufacturing process. Scrap tire rubber is used in the manufacture of new tires, playground surfaces, equestrian mats and rubberized asphalt, among other products. Other cutting-edge manufacturers are combining scrap tires with materials such as
scrap plastic to produce flower pots, roofing tiles and auto parts. A tire is a highly engineered and extensively designed product that is meant to be virtually indestructible under a variety of conditions. Because of this, tires can be difficult to recycle, but that has changed. Tire recyclers have invested millions of dollars in technologies and equipment to recycle tires, allowing scrap tires to play an important role in strengthening our economy and protecting our environment. At tire recycling facilities, the main piece of equipment is the tire shredder, which uses powerful, interlocking knives to chop tires into smaller pieces. Shredding a tire at room temperature using such knives is called ambient shredding. Tires can also be shredded through a cryogenic process that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze them at a sub-zero temperature. Such temperatures cause the physical properties of the tires to change dramatically and become
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2012
very brittle. The tire is placed in an enclosure in which powerful hammers smash the tire apart. Cryogenic grinding is used to make fine crumb rubber powders that are then used in products such as synthetic turf. The non-rubber portions of the tire also are recycled. For example, the steel beads that give the tire its shape and structure are recovered by recyclers and processed into specification grade product used by steel mills for the production of new steel. Scrap tire rubber is a highly sought material. In 2010, scrap processors produced more than 1 billion pounds of crumb rubber that was used in the creation of new products ranging from sidewalks to horse tracks. Tire recycling is an economically sound, environmentally friendly activity that can contribute to the reduction of a products overall carbon footprint. In fact, the use of recycled rubber in molded products provides a substantial carbon footprint
advantage compared with the use of virgin plastic resins, having between four and 20 times lower carbon footprint. The future for tire recycling is strong. Applications for scrap tire rubber such as rubberized asphalt have become recognized for their preferable properties and is gaining in prominence and widespread use. Many states already use rubberized asphalt when they design, reconstruct or repair their roadways, and it is used for several simple and straightforward reasons: it can cost less, provide safety benefits and last longer than conventional asphalt.
2012
Recycled Glass
Glass is made from readily available domestic materials, such as sand, soda ash, limestone and cullet, the industry term for furnace-ready scrap glass. Glass can be recycled again and again with no loss in quality or purity. In 2009 (the latest data available), 31 percent of all glass containers were recycled. For every ton of glass recycled, more than a ton of raw materials is saved, including 1,300 lbs. of sand, 410 lbs. of soda ash, 380 lbs. of limestone and 160 lbs. of feldspar. Recycled glass is substituted for up to 70% of raw materials used in making new glass. An estimated 80% of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles. In 2009, the
latest figures available, 39 percent of beer and soft drink bottles were recovered for recycling. Another 18 percent of wine and liquor bottles and nearly 18 percent of food jars also were recycled. Manufacturers benefit from recycling in several ways: it reduces emissions and consumption of raw materials, extends the life of plant equipment (such as furnaces) and saves energy. Glass recycling creates no additional waste or byproducts. Glass manufacturers are requiring more and more high-quality recycled container glass to meet market demands for new glass containers. Color-sorted, contaminant-free recycled glass helps ensure that these materials are recycled into new glass containers. While curbside collection of glass recyclables can generate high participation and large amounts of recyclables, drop-off and commercial collection programs are also effective at yielding high-quality container glass.
2012
Textiles
The textile segment of the recycling industry processes billions of pounds of cotton, wool, synthetic and syntheticblend products each year. These scrap materials come from a number of sources, ranging from apparel and home furnishing manufacturers to textile mills and consumers. Each year, 1.1 million tons of textiles recovered from individuals (postconsumer) and manufacturers (preconsumer) are recycled as new raw materials for the automotive, furniture, mattress, coarse yarn, home furnishings, paper and other industries. This translates to about 8 lbs. of textiles per person in the Unites States in 2010.
Used clothing collected from households is graded into a number of categories. Garments in good condition are exported for resale in parts of the world where new clothing is not affordable for many. This trade provides employment not only among the exporting nations, but also in the importing countries.
Source: Council for Textile Recycling
2012
Appendix: Global Scrap Exports by Commodity, Volume (metric tons) and Value (US $), 2011
Source: UN Comtrade Database
Commodity Aluminum scrap Copper scrap Ferrous scrap Glass Lead scrap Nickel scrap Plastic scrap Precious metal scrap Recovered paper Rubber scrap Textiles Tin scrap Zinc scrap Other base metal scrap TOTALS
Volume (mt) 7.5 million 5.6 million 106.7 million 3.2 million 272,000 131,000 15 million 122,000 59 million 1 million 911,000 151,000 373,000 440,000 200.6 million
Value ($) $13.2 billion $25.5 billion $53.9 billion $386 million $417 million $751 million $6.9 billion $28 billion $12.1 billion $514 million $496 million $251 million $644 million $2.1 billion $145.2 billion
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2012 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. 1615 L Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036-5664 Tel: 202/662-8500 Fax: 202/626-0900
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THE ISRI SCRAP YEARBOOK 2012

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

For more information about ISRI, visit our website at www.isri.org.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

About the Scrap Recycling Industry

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Scrap Recycling and the Economy

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Domestic Scrap Recycling Facilities

Source: John Dunham & Associates, 2011

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

U.S. Scrap Exports

2010 Value of Scrap Commodities

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Scrap Recycling and the Environment

Did you know?

Recycling 1 ton of:

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Recycling and Energy Savings

Sources: BIR, U.S. EPA Durable Goods Calculator, WARM Calculator

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

What Materials Can Be Recycled?

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Iron and Steel Scrap

therefore is not usually processed by the scrap recycling industry.

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

How Is Ferrous Scrap Transported in the U.S.?

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Ferrous Scrap Exports

Source: Bureau of International Recycling

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Ferrous Scrap Life Cycle: From Cars to Bridges

Old Cars Can Become a New Bridge

Sources: The Jason Project/ISRI 18 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Nonferrous Metal Scrap

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook

Aluminum Scrap Exports

*Includes UBCs and Remelt Scrap Ingot.

*Includes UBCs and RSI.

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

The ISRI Scrap Yearbook