North American Steel Recycling Reaches 88 Percent in 2012

The steel recycling rate in North America was 88 percent in 2012, with almost 84 million tons of steel recycled, according to the latest data calculated by the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI).

Tin plate steel was recycled at a rate of 72 percent, the highest among packaging materials, according to the Pittsburgh-based SRI in a news release. Automotive scrap was recycled at a rate of 92.5 percent for the year.

Appliance steel was recycled at an estimated 90 percent rate. In the construction and demolition area, about 98 percent of out-of-service construction plates and beams were recycled and 70 percent of rebar and other structural steel were captured for recycling through demolition and disassembly.

The SRI calculates the rates based on data from the American Iron and Steel Institute’s annual statistical reports, U.S. Geological Survey, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste, the National Automobile Dealers Association, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.

SRI released the latest figures in conjunction with its 25^th anniversary. The SRI said more than 1 billion tons of steel has been recycled in North America in that time.