• 245 Governor Road, Braeside VIC 3195

  • 10 Groppi Road Hazelwood North VIC 3840

  • 03 9587 6937

Recycling Stainless Steel And Aluminium: Which Has Higher Market Value?

  • 11 May 2023
  • by Melbourne Metal Recycling
  • 0 Comments

Two of the metals that are highly recyclable today are stainless steel and aluminium. Everyone should try to do what they can to keep these metals out of the landfills due to the fact that numerous products are manufactured with them each year. When you start to participate in the recycling of these metals, though, you may notice a price difference with each one. We explain both metals in a bit more detail below, so that you can learn which one brings the higher price.

Aluminium is 100-Percent Recyclable

While aluminium has the same appearance as steel, it is not magnetic like steel is since it is a non-ferrous metal. It does not contain any iron. Aluminium is completely recyclable meaning that 100 percent of it can be reused.

Recycled Aluminium Saves Manufacturers Money on Raw Materials

Manufacturers realise great savings on raw materials when they utilise recycled aluminium to produce their products since it requires up to 95 percent less energy than producing new aluminium from primarily Bauxite ore.

Stainless Steel is also 100-Percent Recyclable

Even though stainless steel contains 70-percent iron, it is classified as a non-ferrous metal due to the fact that it also has eight-percent nickel in it. Just like the aluminium, it is 100-percent recyclable. The primary alloys in stainless are nickel, molybdenum and chromium, which adds to the recycle value of stainless since these are easy to separate out to recover.

Stainless Steel Typically Contains Recycled Materials

Today, stainless steel usually contains about 60-percent recycled stainless steel. This may not hold true in the future, though, due to the increased demand for stainless steel. The reason for this is that stainless steel is so long-lasting that what is in play today may take up to 30 years to be at end-life stage to recycle.

Numerous Products Contain Stainless Steel or Aluminium 

Stainless steel is found in cookware, countertops, machinery, equipment, appliances and more. Aluminium’s most popular product inclusion is beverage and food cans. However, it also is in furniture, doors, windows and other products.

Which of These Metals Is Worth More Recycling?

Now that we have educated you on both these metals, we come to the question as to which one is more valuable in recycling. The answer is that both are valuable, and it depends upon the market, and the form of each metal that you take to the recycler as to which one brings in more money. Examples of current aluminium prices are $.20 to $1.50 per kilo for scrap pieces or $.10 to $.20 per aluminium can. Stainless steel recycle prices range from $.75 to $2.00 per kilo.

To learn additional facts about recycling stainless and aluminium along with which one is more valuable, consult with Melbourne Metal Recycling. Our business is all about recycling non-ferrous and ferrous metals.

LATEST BLOG POST
Request a Quote

We are a trusted scrap metal remover in Melbourne and your go-to metal recycler in Braeside.