Metals Recycling

Definitions and Specifications

Steel Can Scrap

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) (http://www.isri.org) publishes specifications and practices for steel cans and aluminum used beverage cans purchased and sold in the United States (U.S.) and Canada. The specification for can scrap is defined as "steel can scrap compressed to charging box size and weighing no less than 75 pounds per cubic foot. Cans may be baled without removal of paper labels, but free of other nonmetallics. The bundle may include up to 5-gallon, tin-coated containers."

Aluminum Used Beverage Containers (UBC) Scrap

ISRI publishes four definitions for UBC scrap: shredded, densified, baled, and briquetted scrap.

• Shredded UBC scrap
  "Shall have a density of 12 to 17 pounds per cubic foot. Material should contain maximum 5 percent fines less than 4 mesh (U.S. standard screen size) and no more than 2.5 percent fines less than 12 mesh (U.S. standard screen size). Must be magnetically separated material and free of steel, lead, bottle caps, plastic cans and other plastics, glass, wood, dirt, grease, trash, and other foreign substances. Any free lead is basis for rejection. Any and all aluminum items, other than used beverage cans, are not acceptable. Items not covered in the specifications, including moisture, are subject to special arrangement between buyer and seller."

• Densified UBC scrap
  "Shall have a biscuit density of 35 to 45 pounds per cubic foot. Each biscuit not to exceed 60 pounds. Nominal biscuit size range from 10" to 13" x 10.25" to 20" x 6.25" to 9". Shall have banding slots in both directions to facilitate bundle banding. All biscuits comprising a bundle must be of uniform size. Size: Bundle range dimensions acceptable are 41" to 44" x 51" to 54" to 56" (height). The only acceptable tieing method shall be as follows: Using minimum 5/8" wide by .020" thick steel straps the bundles are to be banded with one vertical band per row and a minimum of two girth (horizontal) bands per bundle. Use of skids and/or support sheets of any material is not acceptable. Must be magnetically separated material and free of steel, lead, bottle caps, plastic cans, and other plastic, glass, wood, dirt, grease, trash, and other foreign substances. Any free lead is basis for rejection. Any and all aluminum items, other than used beverage cans, are not acceptable. Items not covered in the specification, including moisture, and any variations in the specification are subject to special arrangement between buyer and seller."

• Baled UBC scrap
  "Shall have a minimum density of 14 pounds per cubic foot, and a maximum density of 17 pounds per cubic foot for unflattened UBC and 22 pounds per cubic foot for flattened UBC. Size: minimum 30 cubic feet, with bale range dimensions of 24" to 40" by 30" to 52" by 40" to 84". The only acceptable tieing method shall be as follows: Four to six 5/8" x 0.20" steel bands, or six to ten #13 gauge steel wires (aluminum bands or wires are acceptable in equivalent strength and number). Use of skids and/or support sheets of any material are not acceptable. Must be magnetically separated material and free of steel, lead, bottle caps, plastic cans, and other plastic, glass, wood, dirt, grease, trash, and other foreign substances. Any free lead is basis for rejection. Any and all aluminum items, other than used beverage cans, are not acceptable. Items not covered in the specification are subject to special arrangement between buyer and seller."

• Briquetted UBC scrap
  "Shall have a briquette density of 50 pounds per cubic foot minimum. Nominal briquette size shall range from 12 to 24 inches x 12 to 24 inches in uniform profile with a variable length of 8 inches minimum and 48 inches maximum. Briquettes shall be bundled or stacked on skids and secured with a minimum of one vertical band per row and a minimum of one girth band per horizontal layer. Briquettes not to overhang pallet. Total package height shall be 48 inches maximum. Banding shall be at least 5.8" wide by .020" thick steel strapping or equivalent strength. The weight of any bundle shall not exceed 4000 pounds. Material must be magnetically separated and free of steel, plastic, glass, dirt, and all other foreign substances. Any and all aluminum items, other than UBC are unacceptable. Any free lead is a basis for rejection. Items not covered in the specification, including moisture, and any variation in the specification are subject to special arrangement between buyer and seller."

White Goods (aka major appliances) means discarded major appliances of any color. These items are often enamel-coated. Examples: washing machines, clothes dryers, hot water heaters, stoves, and refrigerators. This definition does not include electronics, such as televisions and stereos.