Romuterästä

Romuterästä is a Finnish term that translates to "scrap steel" or "recycled steel." It refers to steel that has been salvaged from discarded metal objects, such as old vehicles, appliances, construction materials, and industrial waste, and then reprocessed for reuse. This recycling process is crucial for sustainability, as it reduces the need for virgin iron ore and coal, thereby conserving natural resources and decreasing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with primary steel production.

The process of creating romuterästä typically involves collecting scrap metal, sorting it by type and quality, and then melting it down in electric arc furnaces or basic oxygen furnaces. Impurities are removed, and the molten steel is then cast into new forms, such as ingots or billets, which can be further processed into a wide range of steel products. These recycled steel products can be used in various applications, including construction, manufacturing, and automotive industries, often with comparable quality to steel produced from raw materials. The use of romuterästä is a significant component of the circular economy, promoting resource efficiency and environmental responsibility.