Metals are valuable materials that can be recycled an unlimited number of times without degrading, more than two-thirds of all the aluminum ever produced is still in use. Scrap metal has value that motivates people to collect it for making profit. In 2018, metals are disposed to landfills 134 tonnes every day, 2% of MSW. Metal recyclables have the highest recovery rate at 90%.

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There is a strong economic incentive for the recycling industry to recover metal waste as far as practicable. The recycling of metals enables us to preserve natural resources while requiring less energy to process than the manufacture of new products using virgin raw materials.

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Types of Metals Recycled

Metals can be classified as ferrous, or non-ferrous. Ferrous metals are combinations of iron with carbon. Some common ferrous metals include carbon steel, alloy steel, wrought iron, and cast iron. On the other hand, non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, and tin. Precious metals are non-ferrous. The most common precious metals include gold, platinum, silver, iridium, and palladium.

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Metal Recycling Technologies

Modern recycling technologies can effectively identify many different kinds of metals, though there is still the need for even more effective recycling technologies to separate non-ferrous metals.
 

Scrap metal recycling steps

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The following links list the public scrap metal recycling points in Hong Kong:

1. Waste sorting and recycling bin

2. Community Green Stations

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