Over the last few decades, sustainability has become an increasing focus for commercial and industrial operations across the world. As a result, there has been widespread adoption of resource conservation activities, like the recovery and recycling of metal.
This is particularly true here in Australia, where scrap metal is now a multi-billion dollar industry.
While recycling scrap metal has both environmental and economic benefits, it also presents a range of unique challenges. Most significantly, careful analysis and sorting are required to identify and correctly manage contaminated scrap metal.
Failing to do this can have serious operational, environmental, and social consequences.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the many and varied risks associated with contaminated scrap metal. From health issues to financial impacts, we will explore what these risks are and how they are best managed.
What is Contaminated Scrap Metal?
From a recovery and recycling perspective, contaminated scrap is metal that contains other elements that make it unsuitable for processing.
Often, the contaminant is fairly innocuous, like paint or dirt, and the metal can be easily cleaned. However, some contaminants, like asbestos and radioactive material, are much more serious and significantly harder to remove.
The Dangers of Contaminated Scrap Metal
The exact risks posed by contaminated scrap metal will depend on the nature of the contamination. Where some contaminants will only impact the value of the metal, others will make the metal dangerous to handle and process.
Common dangers associated with contaminated scrap metal include:
Risk to Health
There are a number of contaminants that can result in serious health complications if they are not handled correctly.
Most obviously, exposure to metal that is contaminated with asbestos increases the risk of mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer. This is a particular concern in construction and steelworking environments, where asbestos coatings were once widely used to improve heat resistance.
While asbestos was made illegal in 2003, metals produced before this time – and particularly before the 1980s – may still contain traces of asbestos.
Chromium 6 is another common scrap metal contaminant, as it is widely used in paints and coatings to help prevent corrosion.
Direct exposure to this material can cause irritation of the skin and damage to the eyes. When inhaled, Chromium 6 can also result in asthma-like symptoms and increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
It is also possible for scrap metal to be contaminated with radioactive materials, though this is less common in Australia. The main sources of these metals are the industrial processing, mining, oil and gas, and medical fields.
The impact of exposure to these materials will depend on the nature and strength of the radionuclide present but could include an increased risk of cancer.
Risk to Environment
If scrap metal is not properly identified and disposed of, contaminants like lead and mercury can leach into the soil and groundwater.
This pollutes the site, impacting the health of the local ecosystem and potentially limiting future uses of the area. It can also harm local plant and animal life, particularly if contaminants spread to nearby bodies of water (rivers, dams, etc.).
If they are not identified and removed prior, contaminants can also be released during the recycling process.
To make it easier and more efficient to melt, once scrap metal has been collected and sorted, it is shredded. As the material is broken up, any contaminants are released, creating dust that impacts air quality and, depending on the contaminant, polluting the local environment.
Risk to Safety
Depending on how it was used and what it has been treated with, contaminated scrap metal can be combustible or explosive. This is particularly true if it has been pressurised, mixed or coated with flammable materials, or has significant rust build-up.
It is crucial that these materials are identified, monitored, and handled correctly, including being kept away from welding and grinding activities.
The Costs of Contaminated Scrap Metal
In addition to potentially being dangerous, contaminated scrap metal can also be costly – both financially and operationally. Again, the exact impact will depend on what the contaminant is, but common costs include:
Reduced Resale Value
In addition to being good for the environment, there are also significant financial benefits associated with scrap metal recycling.
For most commercial and industrial operations, these usually come from the sale of scrap materials to processing facilities. They can also be quite lucrative and help offset the cost of ongoing equipment and plant maintenance, repair, and upgrade activities.
However, scrap metal resale rates depend on its type, volume, and quality, and most facilities will conduct testing prior to purchase.
If contamination is identified, depending on what the contaminant is, the scrap may still be able to be sold. However, the price offered will be adjusted to reflect the additional work that will be required to clean and process the material.
Increased Handling Costs
Prior to sale, scrap metal needs to be recovered and sorted based on the type of metal (steel, copper, etc.). As part of this process, testing is often done to determine the exact composition of the material and identify any contamination.
As contaminated scrap metal needs to be managed differently, its presence slows the sorting process, making it both less efficient and more expensive.
Scrap Metal Sorting Made Easy
There are a range of tools that can aid in the identification and management of contaminated scrap metals.
For asbestos screening, you can’t go past the lightweight, but powerful microPHAZIR AS. Using NIR technology, it can identify 6 different types of regulated asbestos fibres, and testing is quick, affordable, and non-destructive.
For everything else, there’s the Niton XL2 Plus. Able to detect elements from Magnesium to Uranium, as well as tramp and trace elements, it makes scrap metal identification fast, accurate, and reliable.
For more information on managing contaminated scrap metal, or to discuss the right tool for your analysis requirements, contact us today.
