Aluminum Scrap Recycling: Types and Benefits
Aluminum scrap refers to discarded aluminum materials that can be recycled and reused, making it a valuable resource in the metal recycling industry. Recycling aluminum is not only cost-effective but also saves up to 95% of the energy required to produce new aluminum from raw bauxite ore. This makes aluminum recycling a key driver of sustainable manufacturing and environmental conservation.
Main Types of Aluminum Scrap
Old Scrap (Post-Consumer Aluminum)
Old aluminum scrap comes from end-of-life aluminum products that have been used and discarded. Common sources include:
• Recycled beverage cans
• Automotive aluminum parts (wheels, engine blocks)
• Aluminum construction waste (window frames, siding)
• Electronics and home appliances
This type of scrap is often mixed with other materials and may require additional processing.
New Scrap (Post-Industrial Aluminum)
New scrap is generated during aluminum manufacturing and fabrication processes. It includes:
• Aluminum machining shavings
• Extrusion offcuts and stamping leftovers
• Clean, high-grade aluminum waste from factories
This type of aluminum scrap is usually cleaner and easier to recycle, making it more valuable in the secondary aluminum market.
Rakaez Alarab specializes in sourcing, processing, and trading both post-consumer and post-industrial aluminum scrap, supporting industries with sustainable raw material solutions.
Aluminum Scrap Grades and Recycling Benefits
Common Grades of Aluminum Scrap
Understanding the different grades of aluminum scrap is essential for efficient recycling and maximizing value in the secondary metals market.
1. Bare Bright Aluminum
Highest grade of scrap aluminum.
Clean, uncoated, and unalloyed.
Common sources: Electrical wiring and bus bars.
2. Clean Aluminum
Slightly painted or lightly contaminated, but still high quality.
Common examples: Aluminum gutters, siding, and window frames.
3. Mixed Aluminum
A lower-grade category with mixed alloys.
Often includes aluminum with steel or plastic attachments.
Found in items like automotive parts and appliances.
4. Turnings (Aluminum Shavings)
Byproducts of machining and cutting processes.
Often mixed with coolants or oils, requiring cleaning before recycling.
5. UBCs (Used Beverage Cans)
Collected and baled aluminum cans.
One of the most recyclable aluminum products due to purity and volume.
Benefits of Aluminum Recycling
Recycling aluminum offers major environmental and economic advantages:
1. Energy Efficiency
Requires only 5% of the energy used in producing new aluminum from bauxite ore.
2. Environmental Impact
Significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and mining waste.
Helps preserve natural resources and minimize landfill use.
3. Economic Value
Aluminum retains high market value even as scrap.
Supports a profitable and sustainable circular economy.
Rakaez Alarab specializes in sourcing, grading, and trading all types of aluminum scrap, delivering sustainable, high-quality materials for industrial reuse.
