koperrecycling

Koperrecycling, or copper recycling, is the process of recovering copper from scrap metal and copper-containing products for reuse in the copper supply chain. It covers post-consumer waste such as discarded cables and electronics as well as industrial scrap from manufacturing and fabrication.

Common sources of copper scrap include electrical wires and cables, electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), plumbing copper, heat exchangers, radiators, and alloy scrap. Scrap is collected, sorted by copper content and contamination, dismantled when needed, and prepared for processing.

The core processing sequence involves mechanical treatment, separation, and then metallurgical refining. After collection, materials are shredded or baled, and separation techniques (magnetic, eddy current, density, and flotation) remove non-copper fractions. The purified copper undergoes smelting to produce blister copper, followed by refining through electrorefining or solvent extraction–electrowinning to produce high-purity copper cathodes suitable for remanufacture into new products.

Copper recovered from scrap is typically 99.0%–99.9% pure, depending on processing quality. Recycled copper can be manufactured into rods, wires, pipe, or ingots and used in the same applications as primary copper.

Environmental and economic aspects are prominent. Copper recycling generally uses far less energy than primary production—estimates commonly indicate about 15% of the energy, yielding energy savings around 85–90%. It reduces mining waste, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and diverts waste from landfills. Market factors, regulatory frameworks (such as waste electrical and electronic equipment directives and extended producer responsibility), and international scrap flows influence the efficiency and reach of copper recycling. Challenges include contamination, coating residues, and the informal sector in some regions.