CAN A SCRAP YARD SAVE THE EARTH?
Well-maintained with state-of-the-art equipment and customer-friendly employees, our recycling facilities defy expectations of what a scrap yard looks like. But it’s on the inside where you’ll find our greenest initiatives and sustainability in action. Our recycling facilities are key to conserving natural resources.
FLUIDS, CFC’S & MERCURY SWITCHES
We clean and sort all scrap before shipping. Our teammates safely and efficiently remove all items from vehicles and appliances that could harm the environment. We led a nationwide movement to remove mercury switches from older cars before they are recycled. As of 2020 DJJ and its recycling locations have recovered more than 376,291 mercury switches, resulting in over 828 lbs of mercury being removed from the environment. Our operations employ the most comprehensive radiation detection equipment and procedures to screen and stop hazardous materials from entering our facilities.
GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG)
Interested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Look no further than recycling steel. According to the EPA, every ton of steel made from recycling steel nets an overall reduction of 0.49 metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE) into the environment. When you recycle tens of millions of tons of scrap every year, this adds up to a significant environmental benefit.
In 2019, DJJ teammates completed over
individual environmental related tasks
Our recycling facilities are among the most environmentally advanced in the industry. In addition to routine inspections for environmental compliance, each facility receives a detailed annual inspection that evaluates all aspects of our environmental performance. DJJ’s environmental management system extends to each of our operating facilities and our trading network.
2019 ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS
These awards recognize entities that go beyond environmental regulations and strive towards sustainability.
- Indiana’s Clean Yard Gold Award
- The Colorado Environmental Leadership Program Gold Leader Award
THE FACTS
2 out of 3 tons of steel made in the U.S. is manufactured using ferrous scrap.
This means millions of tons of reduced greenhouse gas emissions due to less energy needed to manufacture products, avoiding landfill use, and cleaner streams and rivers thanks to reduced pollutants discharged from both ferrous and nonferrous manufacturing mills
RECYCLING 1 TON OF STEEL CONSERVES
pounds of iron ore
pounds of coal
pounds of limestone
This equals substantial reductions in environmental impacts from mining.
over
tons of scrap are recycled in the U.S. annually
THE BEST TECHNOLOGY TO HARNESS THE ULTIMATE RENEWABLE RESOURCE
Converting this scrap metal into a valuable replacement for virgin raw materials while still protecting the environment takes more than hard work. It takes the most innovative technology available, which is exactly what you’ll find at our 60-plus U.S. recycling facilities.
FERROUS RECYCLING
Our ferrous recycling uses high efficiency shredders, balers, shears and sorting equipment.
NON-FERROUS RECYCLING
Processes include baling, wire recovery, briquetting, shearing, accurately sorting alloys, custom packaging and toll conversion arrangements.
PATENTED BULK SCRAP ANALYZERS
Accurately determine the chemistry of scrap grades, reducing the variability in scrap charges. This process also allows us to certify the content of key elements critical to our customers.
SOPHISTICATED SORTATION SYSTEM
Uses state-of-the-art technology to ensure that virtually every ounce of metal is extracted during the recycling process…and not sent to landfills.
PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE
Helps steel mill customers optimize scrap charges to produce the lowest cost liquid steel to exacting specifications.