What happens to your metal waste?

The scrap metal handed in is exported to factories. In the Netherlands alone, the volume of all this metal waste is about 3 million tons, of which 2.8 million tons is iron waste (scrap). Most of the scrap is shipped to the large smelting furnaces in Turkey. A smaller part remains in the Netherlands, where it can be used, for example, at Tata Steel.

The non-ferrous waste, such as aluminum, copper or stainless steel, is remelted into semi-finished products at factories in Europe. Since China has tightened import requirements, non-ferrous waste is hardly allowed to contain dirt. In fact, the market for cable waste and old electric motors is completely closed. But these items find their way to other markets within Europe, or in countries in Asia.

How is the price determined?

Prices for non-ferrous waste are based on LME (London Metal Exchange) prices. These prices fluctuate, partly under the influence of geopolitical developments. Examples include strikes at a copper mine, threats of import duties and possible tensions between economic powers.

Why is recycling so important?

Because the earth’s resources (mines) are becoming increasingly depleted, mining must be carried out under increasingly environmentally damaging conditions. By recycling metal waste into new product within Europe or even within the Netherlands, we provide the shortest route from waste to raw material.