Stahlschrott

Stahlschrott (steel scrap) refers to recyclable ferrous metal recovered from end-of-life steel products and manufacturing waste. It consists mainly of iron with small amounts of alloying elements and contaminants. Sources include construction and demolition waste, vehicles, machinery, and offcuts from steel production. The quality depends on source and sorting; alloyed steels and stainless steel scraps require careful separation to avoid impurity transfer.

Processing involves sorting into grades, removing nonferrous metals, plastics, coatings and other contaminants, followed by shredding, shearing and baling. Magnetic separation is used to separate ferrous scrap from nonferrous; additional separations remove copper, aluminum and other impurities.

Recycling uses steelmaking furnaces, especially electric arc furnaces (EAF), which melt scrap to produce new steel. Some plants use basic oxygen furnaces with scrap additions. The share of scrap in steelmaking varies by technology and region, and scrap-based production enables rapid response to demand and lowers energy consumption.

Environmental and economic role: recycling of steel reduces energy use and greenhouse gas emissions compared with primary production, with energy savings commonly cited in the range of 60-70%. Stahlschrott supports the circular economy by reducing raw material extraction and landfill use. Contamination with certain elements (copper, tin, zinc, lead) can limit recyclability or quality for some grades, necessitating careful sorting and processing. Global scrap markets are influenced by steel demand, regulation, and trade flows.