scrap metal
Recyclable industrial remnants
Scrap metal is discarded or leftover metal suitable for recycling or repurposing.
It includes everything from aluminum cans to junked cars to industrial waste.
Scrap dealers buy it, sort it by type, and sell it to foundries for melting and reuse: He made money hauling scrap metal to the yard.
The term also describes the industry: She works in scrap metal.
Salvage storage site
- landfillWaste burial ground
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- remnantsWhat stays after most goes
refuse · discard · dumping · shredding · compactor · detritus · disposal · garbage
Extracting metal from ore
- foundryMetal casting facility
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- aluminumElement thirteen
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
alloy · welding · casting · forging · fabrication · mill · ingot · billet
Recovering damaged goods
- reclaimTake back possession
- recycleProcess for renewed use
- upcycleCreatively reuse discarded materials
- repurposeAdapt for new use
reprocess · sustainability · circular economy · recovery · remanufacture · eco-friendly · resourceful · meltdown
Iron oxide coating
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- patinaSurface film from aging
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
- pittedSeed removed, or opposed
weathered · discoloration · iron oxide · verdigris · ferric · corroded · flaking · crust
Self-propelled road vehicles
- appliancesPowered household equipment
- machineryCollective mechanical equipment
- pipesCylindrical fluid carriers
- wiringInstalled electrical conductors
cans · construction · demolition · ships · aircraft · electronics · railroad · beams
junkyard
Salvage storage site
remnants · refuse · discard · dumping · shredding · compactor · detritus · disposal · garbage · trash
smelting
Extracting metal from ore
copper · alloy · welding · casting · forging · fabrication · mill · ingot · billet · galvanizing
salvage
Recovering damaged goods
- reclaimTake back possession
- recycleProcess for renewed use
- upcycleCreatively reuse discarded materials
repurpose · reprocess · sustainability · circular economy · recovery · remanufacture · eco-friendly · resourceful · meltdown · commodity
rust
Iron oxide coating
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- patinaSurface film from aging
- tarnishOxidation discoloration on metal
pitted · weathered · discoloration · iron oxide · verdigris · ferric · corroded · flaking · crust · degradation
automobiles
Self-propelled road vehicles
- appliancesPowered household equipment
- machineryCollective mechanical equipment
- pipesCylindrical fluid carriers
wiring · cans · construction · demolition · ships · aircraft · electronics · railroad · beams · rebar
- environmental serviceswaste management, remediation, air quality, water treatment, recycling
- Metal Industrygold trade, refineries, smelters, foundries
- salvaged materialsreclaimed wood, recycled glass, pallet wood
- aluminum industryaluminum, alumina, bauxite, smelting, smelter
- aircraft boneyardboneyard, salvage parts, fuselages, fighters, bombers
- dumped wastegarbage, trash, mattresses, sofas, fridges