Mechanical Recycling — Ferrous Metals Output
Two ferrous metal output streams from e-waste mechanical recycling — iron alloys and steel (85–95% of the ferrous mix, sold to foundries and metal traders) and nickel-based alloys (5–15%, sold to nickel alloy manufacturers) — with typical output size and buyers.
| Component | Percentage | Output Size | Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Alloys & Steel | 85-95% | 5-50 mm (Granules/Flakes/Chunks) | Steel & iron foundries, metal traders |
| Nickel-Based Alloys | 5-15% | 5-50 mm (solid form) | Nickel alloy manufacturers, smelters |
Beyond definitions
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How to read this table
- Each row is one ferrous metal component; columns show the component name, its percentage of the total ferrous output, typical output size, and typical buyers.
- These percentages are within the ferrous fraction, not as a percentage of total e-waste input weight — the ferrous fraction itself represents a percentage of total input weight that varies by feedstock type.
About this table
After shredding and magnetic separation in a mechanical e-waste recycling plant, the ferrous metal output stream consists primarily of iron alloys and steel, with a smaller nickel alloy fraction. This table maps the two components of the ferrous stream, their typical percentage in the mix, the output size from standard mechanical processing, and the buyer categories for each.
Iron Alloys and Steel constitute 85–95% of the ferrous fraction recovered from e-waste. The dominant form is mild steel from equipment housings, frames, and brackets. It exits the mechanical processing line as granules and flakes in the 5–50 mm size range — the size determined by the shredder screen and granulator configuration. These iron and steel fragments are sold to steel and iron foundries (which use them as scrap charge in electric arc furnaces), metal traders (who aggregate and consolidate scrap for secondary steel producers), and sometimes directly to steel re-rolling mills if the volume and quality are consistent enough.
Nickel-Based Alloys (5–15% of the ferrous fraction) come from specialised components such as stainless steel fasteners, nickel-plated contacts, and some motor components. These are recovered alongside the bulk ferrous fraction through magnetic separation but are distinguishable by their appearance (different colour and surface texture) and higher market value. Nickel alloy manufacturers and metal smelters who process mixed scrap into nickel-containing alloys are the primary buyers. For most mechanical e-waste recyclers, the nickel alloy fraction is sold mixed with the ferrous stream unless a dedicated nickel alloy sorting step (hand sorting or spectrometric sorting) is added — the price premium may justify sorting at higher throughput volumes.
Key insights
- Iron and steel dominate the ferrous fraction at 85–95% — the ferrous output from a mechanical e-waste recycler is essentially a steel scrap stream with a small nickel alloy component.
- Nickel alloy fragments (5–15% of ferrous output) are worth more per kilogram than standard steel scrap — dedicated nickel alloy sorting at higher throughput volumes can meaningfully improve ferrous stream revenue.
- Output size of 5–50 mm (granules/flakes/chunks) from mechanical processing is standard steel scrap size for electric arc furnace charge material — most Indian secondary steel producers accept this size range.
- The ferrous output quality from e-waste mechanical recycling is mixed-alloy scrap, not sorted single-grade steel — it is valued and sold at mixed scrap prices, not premium single-grade prices.
Methodology & sources
Ferrous output composition data is based on typical e-waste mechanical recycling line outputs. Nickel alloy percentage within the ferrous fraction varies significantly with feedstock mix — IT and telecommunications equipment has higher nickel alloy content than household appliances. Actual buyer prices for iron and steel scrap vary with LME steel prices and local scrap market conditions.
Related data tables
Iron Content by E-Waste Feedstock Category
Iron content percentages for five e-waste feedstock categories — from large appliances like dishwashers and fans (55% iron) to heating equipment (35–45%) — used for yield planning in e-waste recycling operations focused on ferrous metal recovery.
Mechanical Recycling — Non-Ferrous Metals Output
The six non-ferrous metal fractions recovered from the eddy-current and density separation stages of a mechanical e-waste recycling line — aluminium, copper, brass, zinc, lead, and tin — with each metal's share of the non-ferrous stream and its output size.
Total Equipment Capex by Plant Type
Master capex reference for four e-waste recycling plant types — mechanical, PCB, pyrometallurgical, and hydrometallurgical — showing required equipment, indicative total machinery investment, skill profile, and ideal operator profile for each plant type.