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Scrap metal items are generated throughout campus as part of the on-going operations of the university. These items include, but are not limited to: outdated or broken equipment, automotive parts, chain link fence, desks, water heaters, bed frames, light fixtures, bookshelves and other old metal furniture not suitable for re use, pipes, etc.

All scrap metal generated on campus should be brought to the metal collection bin at the Facilities Development and Operations (FD&O) Corporate Yard (located at the corner of 10th Street and San Fernando). Departments that generate large amounts of metal items should request temporary bins for collection at recycle@sjsu.edu.  You may also submit a pick up request to Recycling/Moving Services via an iService Request or call 924-1990.

Where Does It Go?

All scrap metal collected in this program is hauled to a local processing facility at where the material is shredded and separated from non-metal components. The scrap is then shipped overseas where it is melted in large furnaces and used to create new items.

Did You Know?

• Each year, North America recycles more steel than plastic combined.
• Americans use 100 million steel cans every day.
• The steel industry has been recycling for over 150 years.
• The steel industry’s largest source of raw material is scrap metal, which is commonly collected by recycling steel.
• Recycling steel saves 75 percent of the energy that would be used to create steel from raw materials, enough to power 18 million homes.
• Over 65 percent of the steel produced in the U.S. is recycled into new steel every year.
• One ton of recycled steel saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone.
• A steel frame for a 2,000 square foot, two-story house is equivalent to the material of about six recycled cars; a comparable wooden frame would take over 40 trees to produce.
• A typical household appliance (also known as a “white good”) is produced using approximately 65 percent steel.
• Steel cans contain at least 25 percent recycled steel, with many nearly reaching 100 percent recycled content.

Source:  http://earth911.com/