Scrapping

Scrapping refers to the act of discarding or salvaging discarded materials for reuse or recycling. The term is used in industry and everyday language to describe processes that reclaim value from waste and worn‑out items.

Scrap metal recycling is the most common form of scrapping. Scrap metal includes old vehicles, appliances, construction debris, and manufacturing waste. Local yards collect, sort by metal type, remove contaminants, and then melt the metal to create new products. Recycling metal saves energy, reduces mining, and lowers emissions, though prices fluctuate with commodity markets.

Ship scrapping, or shipbreaking, involves dismantling obsolete ships to recover steel and other materials. Major yards operate in some regions around the world. The practice can create economic activity but raises safety, environmental, and labor concerns, prompting regulation and safeguards.

Other uses include industrial scrap from manufacturing, where excess or unusable byproducts are recycled or sold as scrap. The term can also appear in informal speech to mean canceling plans or discarding proposals, though this usage is less formal.

Data-related scrapping is more often called web scraping, the automated extraction of information from websites. While technically distinct, it is sometimes discussed alongside material scrapping as part of data reclamation. Legal and ethical considerations apply, including terms of service and copyright.