Metal drums are a type of common packaging container and are used for a variety of purposes in many industries such as automotive, food, and chemical manufacturing. But have you ever wondered what do do with the empty barrels once the contents are used up?
Recycled Scrap Metal Market is Expanding
Once the contents are used up, people should dispose of the metal drums in a responsible manner. This can be done in many ways, and the most important way is to recycle them to conserve resources and energy. According to FMI, the recycled scrap metal market was exceeded US$61.45 Billion in 2022 and it is expected to rise at a 5.4% annual growth rate to a value of US$103.97 Billion by 2032.
What Are the Uses of Recycled Metal?
When it comes to recycling, once the drums become empty and useless, they can be sent to scrap metal recycling centers, and according to different drum types, they can be melted down and re-produced into many types of new products. Here are some examples that they can be made into:
Raw Steel Material
Scrap metal can be recycled into new steel raw material to be used in construction, automotive, and industrial manufacturing.
Furniture
they can also be made into various furniture such as table, chair, bookshelf, etc. These pieces of furniture are usually more environmentally friendly and economical than those produced from new raw materials.
Artwork
These scrap metal sometimes are used by artists to create a variety of sculptures and installations which are often modern and unique in their beauty.
Crafts
Scrap metals can be made into various crafts, such as clocks, lamps, souvenirs and so on. These handicrafts are not only practical, but also have collective value.
Ships, Planes, Trains, And Other Means of Transport:
Scrap metal can be recycled and reused for the manufacture of vehicle components, such as automobile frames, motorcycle chassis, aircraft structures, etc.
Except for being recycled, some empty barrels can also be reused again for other purposes, like to store pesticides or waste.
The empty metal drums must be disposed of properly if they cannot be recycled or reused. They can be sent to some hazardous waste disposal sites where they are taken apart and disposed of safely.
What Is a Drum Crusher?
Drum crushers (or called drum compactor) play an important role in the disposal of used drums. A drum crusher is a device that is used to compact the metal drums into thin “pancakes”, making them easier to transport and dispose of.
Because the height of the drums is highly reduced, they can be stacked many layers on a pallet, and usually you can put 4 crushed drums in one layer. This is a lot higher transport efficiency and lower cost because you can ship more quantity of drums in one time. Drum crushers are often used in industrial applications, as they can flatten large amounts of drums in a short amount of time.
Drum crushers can not only used to dispose the old drums, but also can used to reduce the side of the drums that are still in use, to save the space for storage of drums or to make the transportation easier.
If you are looking for drum crushers to dispose of or recycle your used metal drums, just contact us today!
