Ferrous metals are found in a wide range of products, household items and are used in the construction industry.

Ferrous metals are mainly iron-based, and have high tensile strength. They are used in the construction of electrical appliances and motors due to their magnetic properties. The majority of ferrous metals contain high levels of carbon, making them vulnerable to rust. However, stainless steel (as well as wrought iron) are impervious to the rusting process.

Ferrous metals include steel (mild, carbon and stainless) and iron (cast and wrought).

Steel is a common ferrous metal and is found in a range of products and applications across the world. The steelmaking industry depends on the recycling of scrap ferrous metals in order to meet demand while keeping costs low and environmental impact even lower.

• Close to 40% of all the steel spanning the globe comes from recycled ferrous metals as the process for recycling the steel is much cheaper and uses up much less energy than mining and refining new steel.
• Recycling steel takes up around 75% less energy than mining and refining new steel deposits, which is enough energy to power approximately 18 million average households.
• Steel, unlike other non-ferrous metals, retains its physical properties during the recycling process, so it can be effectively used again without needing to be strengthened.

There are a great number of items constructed from ferrous metals that can be recycled, some of which you may not be aware of, and vary greatly in size and availability.
Cans, vehicles, tools and even household appliances such as washing machines can be recycled as ferrous metals. Cast iron baths, cast iron pipes and old water tanks are also on the list.
There are also a variety of items used in the construction industry made of ferrous metals, and the industry uses and then recycles a large quantity of these materials, such as beams, machinery and columns.