Meaning
Percentage of pure metal recovered from raw waste material after it undergoes industrial purification or smelting. Manufacturers and recyclers track the refined scrap yield to determine the economic value of the secondary materials they purchase. This figure accounts for the removal of all impurities, coatings and non-metallic attachments that were present in the initial scrap.
A higher yield indicates a cleaner source of material and a more efficient refining process.
Recovery Calculation
Comparing the input weight of the scrap to the final weight of the refined ingots provides the base data for this metric. The refined scrap yield is the primary factor in deciding whether a specific recycling stream is profitable. For example, clean copper wire will have a much higher yield than insulated cables that require mechanical stripping.
Processors use these calculations to set their buying prices in a way that covers the cost of processing and the loss of mass.
Profit Margin
Small improvements in the recovery rate can lead to large changes in the annual bottom line of a refinery. High refined scrap yield reduces the amount of waste that must be managed and increases the volume of product available for sale. Facilities invest in advanced sorting and melting technologies to maximize this number.
If the yield drops below a certain point, the facility may need to re-evaluate its sourcing strategy or update its furnace settings.
Input Analysis
Chemical testing of the incoming material helps predict what the final recovery will be. The refined scrap yield is often compared against the theoretical maximum to judge the performance of the smelting team. Differences between the predicted and actual yield are investigated to find leaks in the system or errors in the initial assay.
Maintaining a consistent and high recovery rate is the goal of every industrial recycling operation.
