Fascinating Facts About Metal Recycling

One of the most fundamental parts of the metal fabrication process is recycling, as the vast majority of metal used in construction and manufacture has been used before.

The reasons for this are obvious; recycling reduces air pollution by 86 per cent, water pollution by 76 per cent and uses a quarter of the energy it takes to smelt virgin iron ore, with aluminium recycling using only five per cent of the energy it takes to make virgin aluminium.

Metal recycling has existed since the bronze age in one form or another and as a result, has led to some exceptionally fascinating facts and stories about the process and people behind it.

 

Three-Quarters Of Aluminium Ever Mined Is Still In Circulation

Metal recycling was one of the first materials ever to be reused and a significant reason for this is that many metals can be recycled easily and endlessly just by melting it down.

Aluminium, in particular, is exceptionally easy and quick to recycle, and the benefits are exceptionally pronounced, with 20 aluminium tins being made using the energy it takes to make just one from raw materials.

As well as this, aluminium can be recycled so quickly and efficiently it can be back on shelves as a new product in just 60 days.

Because of this, and the ease at which it can be sorted and picked, the vast majority of aluminium that has ever been mined and refined from bauxite still exists in circulation, and the drinks can you recycle has been recycled dozens if not hundreds of times previously.

 

A Quarter Of Each Car Is Made From Recycled Steel

When we think about metal recycling, one of the first images that comes to mind is the idea of the car crusher, where cars are stripped of all non-metal parts, crushed and eventually shredded to make new metal parts.

As a result, a quarter of each car by weight is made of recycled steel, with another quarter being made up of recyclable components such as liquids and electrical parts.

 

Wartime Posters Claimed Bottle Tops Could Build A Lancaster Bomber

One of the biggest and most aggressive recycling campaigns in history was enacted during the Second World War, with nearly every possible recyclable item collected and salvaged to make weapons, ammunition and aircraft.

One particularly fascinating poster campaign involved the Avro Lancaster Bomber, a heavy bomber craft that was at the time seen as the most important part of the eventual victory of the Allies.

They suggested that if all of the milk bottle tops in England were salvaged, it could save enough scrap metal to make ten Lancaster Bombers, and this, along with other similar adverts made recycling not only beneficial for the planet and economically sound but also a patriotic duty.

This, along with ‘Make do and Mend’ became a rallying cry for the Home Front, and was seen as a way for people who could not actually fight or be conscripted to feel like they were contributing a little bit towards victory.

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MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.