Facts and Precautionary Measures for Handling Copper Scrap

Copper Scrap:

Uses of Copper in Health and the Environment:

Copper and copper alloys have been reused for hundreds of years. Early on, people learned that if they didn’t have any freshly mined copper ore, they could melt old copper objects and cast them into new ones. During wartime, bells and other household items, as well as decorative items, were used to make weapons. After the war, they were turned back into things that had nothing to do with the war. Before the American Revolutionary War, the British made sure that all copper ore was sent to England to be processed, so all copper and copper alloy products made in the U.S. were made from recycled metal. Since those early days, recycled copper has been a major source of copper scrap in the United States. It makes up almost half of the copper made and sold yearly.

The Flow of Scrap:

Copper ScrapToday, buying copper scrap from a national network of scrap processors and brokers is the first step in turning unalloyed copper scrap into new copper products. No. 1 scrap is clean, unalloyed, and uncoated copper solids, clippings, punchings, bus bars, commutator segments, and clean pipe and tubing. No. 2 copper scrap is the same as No. 1 copper scrap, but it may include pieces that have been oxidized or coated/plated, such as an oxidized or coated copper wire that has not been oxidized too much.

When copper scrap is brought in to be recycled, it is looked at, graded, and, if necessary, chemically tested. Loose scrap is put in bales and put away until it is needed. No. 1 scrap is directly melted, and in some cases, it is made purer while it is still hot (fire refined). When the charge is fully melted, the purity of the copper is checked with a chemical test. The molten copper is then deoxidized and poured into a shape (billets, cakes, ingots) that can be used for further processing.

Fact You Need to Know:

Copper is a non-ferrous metal that is valued as the best conductor of electricity among non-precious metals. Silver is the only metal that can conduct electricity better than copper. Copper is worth up to 90% of the value of new copper. Because of this, it is one of the main things that scrap metal collectors look for. Here are a few more facts about copper and recycling copper:

1. Copper has been used by people longer than any other metal. It has been around for 10,000 years. In what is now northern Iraq, a copper pendant from about 8700 B.C. was found.

2. Around 8000 B.C., Neolithic people started using copper instead of stone. Around 4000 B.C., the Egyptians heated and shaped copper by pouring it into molds. Soon after that, around 3500 B.C., people started melting down ores, which led to the Bronze Age.

3. The Romans got the copper they used from the island of Cyprus. They called it “Cyprium,” which means “metal of Cyprus.” This name was shortened to cyprium, and then cyprium was changed to crop rum. This is where the English word “copper” came from.

4. It takes a lot less energy to make copper from recycled copper than from new copper made from virgin ore. This saves 85–90% of the energy needed.

5. The United States is second only to Chile in the amount of copper it makes, and it makes most of the copper it needs on its own. About 8% of the world’s copper comes from the United States.

6. In 2014, 820,000 metric tonnes of copper were recycled in the U.S. for use in the country and for export.

7. In 2014, about 34% of the copper made in the United States came from recycled materials. The rest came from newly mined ore. Most of the copper used to make wire comes from newly refined copper. However, almost two-thirds of the copper used by other industries, such as copper and brass mills, ingot makers, foundries, and others, comes from recycled copper.

8. A little more than half of the copper scrap that is recycled is new scrap, like chips and machine turnings. The other half is old scrap, like electrical cables, old radiators, and plumbing tubes.

Precautions for Copper Scrap:

Copper recycling can be a good way to make money from old machines and tools that are no longer in use. But it’s important to be aware of the safety risks that could happen when collecting and moving copper scrap.

Here are six important safety steps to take when you are collecting and recycling scrap copper.

Putting on PPE:

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is one of the most important safety steps to take when working with scrap copper. Copper scrap can have sharp edges that can hurt you if you don’t have the right safety gear.

You should wear work gloves and safety goggles when you pick up and move copper to recycle. When working with scrap copper, it’s also a good idea to wear boots with a steel toes or boots made for hard work.

Putting on the Right Clothes for Work:

In addition to PPE, you and any staff members who are working with you should also wear clothes that are suitable for work. If you are going to handle scrap copper, you should wear long sleeves and pants to keep your skin from getting scratched or cut.

Taking a Look Around Before Starting:

You might be getting scrap copper from a construction site or a scrapyard. The first step in collecting scrap copper is to look around and see if there are any dangers.

Before you start collecting scrap copper, it’s best to get the work area as organized as possible and get rid of anything that could be dangerous or get in the way.

Trying to Carry Loads that are too Heavy:

Don’t try to carry too many pieces of copper scrap at once. It’s better to make several trips than to try to move a very heavy load all at once.

Talking to Other People on the Job Site or in the Scrap Yard:

When it comes to safety on the job site, communication is key. When collecting scrap copper with heavy equipment like a crane or forklift, it’s especially important to talk to each other. Make sure that workers are always aware of where and where heavy equipment is to avoid accidents.

Keeping Copper Scrap in Place While it’s Being Moved:

Don’t give in to the urge to try to move copper that isn’t properly held in place. Before you move copper scrap, you need to put in time and effort to make sure your loaded truck or trailer is safe.

Conclusion:

You want pieces of copper to stay in your car while you’re driving. This could make you liable for a lot of trouble. Copper pieces must be tied down or secured in some other way to keep them safe during transport.