2016Yearbook_Flipbook

2016

THE I SR I SCRAP YEARBOOK

According to USGS, zinc metal is mostly used as a coating to protect iron and steel from corrosion (galvanized metal), as alloying metal to make bronze and brass, as zinc-based die casting alloy, and as rolled zinc. Zinc is also consumed in the form of zinc compounds by the rubber, chemical, paint, and agricultural industries, among others. In the United States, USGS figures show that about 37 percent (or 65,000 metric tons) of the refined zinc produced in the United States was recovered from secondary materials.

drosses, were frequently quoted as a percentage of the LME price. Other scrap items – such as die cast – are frequently quoted in cents per pound.

The U.S. Zinc Industry

PROCESSED ZINC SCRAP* (MT)

TOTAL ZINC USAGE (MT)

ZINC SCRAP EXPORTS (MT)

YEAR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

220,000 240,000 238,000 166,000 120,000

946,000 902,000 935,000 965,000 960,000

86,000 90,000 88,000 71,000 55,000

*Secondary slab zinc production + zinc scrap exports.

Zinc scrap can come from a range of sources including old and new die-cast zinc, new zinc clippings, drosses from galvanizing, skimmings, and ashes. Steelmaking dusts and zinc-coated steel scrap also remain rich sources of recoverable zinc. Prices for scrap zinc, such as galvanizing

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INSTITUTE OF SCRAP RECYCLING INDUSTRIES, INC.