Lyla Lindsey
Steel recycling in Western Australia is an increasingly important topic, with the state aiming to lead the way in sustainable steelmaking. Green Steel of Western Australia (GSWA) has announced two significant projects: a $400 million green steel recycling mill in Collie, using an electric arc furnace, and a $2.5 billion Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant near Geraldton, utilising green hydrogen. These projects highlight Western Australia's commitment to decarbonised steelmaking, with the state also investing in hydrogen production and renewable energy sources. InfraBuild, Australia's second-largest metals recycler, operates 21 recycling facilities across the country, contributing around 1.4 million tonnes of recycled metals to steelmaking operations annually. The company specialises in the safe handling, collection, and processing of scrap metal, with a focus on environmental sustainability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Steel recycling business in Western Australia | InfraBuild, Green Steel of Western Australia |
| InfraBuild's steel recycling capacity | 1.4 million tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal every year |
| InfraBuild's recycling facilities | 21 InfraBuild recycling facilities supplemented by 1 regional NSW site |
| AusCon's scrap metal shredder | The only family-owned scrap metal shredder in Western Australia |
| National capture rate of steel into recycling programs | 90% |
| Recycled content in steel products | Up to 95% |
| Steel scrap availability | Limited by its availability |
| Steel scrap collection | Free drop-off for scrap steel at InfraBuild Recycling yards |
| Green Steel of Western Australia's projects | A$400 million green steel recycling mill in Collie, A$2.5 billion Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant near Geraldton |
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What You'll Learn
Steel recycling businesses in Western Australia
Steel recycling businesses play a crucial role in promoting sustainability and environmental conservation in Western Australia. By repurposing steel, these enterprises contribute to reducing landfill waste and mitigating the release of greenhouse gases associated with metal production through mining. One notable company in this industry is West Coast Metals, a female-owned and operated business that has been serving Perth for over 20 years. They recycle various metals, including steel, copper, brass, lead, and aluminium, offering competitive prices and instant cash payments. Their commitment to customer service and a tidy scrapyard sets them apart from competitors.
Another prominent steel recycling business in Western Australia is WA Scrap Metal, which serves homeowners, contractors, and businesses across the state. They specialise in scrap metal recycling, offering competitive prices and accurate weighing with state-of-the-art digital electronic scales. WA Scrap Metal accepts various metals, such as copper, aluminium, batteries, lead, and brass, and provides efficient and eco-friendly recycling solutions. Their dedication to responsible recycling practices ensures that scrap metal is processed sustainably, contributing to a cleaner environment.
Metal West Recycling is another key player in the steel recycling industry in Perth. They offer their services to builders, manufacturers, commercial businesses, and the general public, providing convenient scrap metal collection throughout the city. Metal West Recycling has a modern fleet of trucks and a recycling facility in Landsdale that can accommodate various delivery sizes. They accept ferrous and non-ferrous metals and pay top prices for them.
Additionally, AusCon Metals & Machinery is a family-owned business that operates the only family-owned scrap metal shredder in Western Australia. They can process and handle a variety of metal scraps with their state-of-the-art mobile machinery. AusCon Metals & Machinery provides best practices and guidance on metal recycling, assisting customers in making informed decisions about recycling their scrap metal.
These steel recycling businesses in Western Australia contribute to the circular economy, conserve natural resources, and reduce the environmental impact of metal production. They play a vital role in ensuring that steel, a highly recyclable material, is given a new lease of life, promoting sustainability and a greener future for the region.
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Electric arc furnace steelmaking
The process of electric arc furnace steelmaking involves using an electric arc to supply energy, melting the steel and fluxes. Lime is used as a flux to remove silicates and phosphorus from the molten steel, forming a slag. During the refining or superheating stage, the slag is tapped or poured out, and the steel is drained from the furnace through a submerged taphole. The furnace is tilted back to prevent slag from entering the steel ladle.
In Western Australia, there are no steel mills in the state, so 100% of its scrap steel is exported. However, electric arc furnace technology is being used in other parts of Australia to produce steel in a more sustainable way. For example, Green Steel of WA uses electric arc furnaces to produce low-embodied-carbon rebar and wire rod, reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional steelmaking.
Overall, electric arc furnace steelmaking plays a crucial role in the recycling of steel, particularly in Western Australia, where the lack of local steel mills has led to a reliance on exporting scrap steel. By utilising electric arc furnaces, steel producers can reduce their environmental impact, increase efficiency, and support the development of sustainable business practices.
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Scrap steel collection
InfraBuild, an Australian steel manufacturer, is one of the largest scrap metal recycling businesses in the country. The company has 21 recycling facilities in Australia, supplemented by one regional site in NSW, that together contribute around 1.4 million tonnes of recycled metals annually to their steelmaking operations. InfraBuild offers free drop-off services for scrap steel at its recycling yards, accepting a wide range of items such as tin, wire, roofing, hot water systems, white goods, electrical waste, old BBQs, car/truck batteries, weight sets, trailers, and old trampolines. They also assist with clearing farms and rural properties of old vehicles, machinery, and tools.
Another key player in Western Australia's scrap steel collection is Green Steel of Western Australia (GSWA). GSWA has a large-scale, low-emissions steel recycling mill in Collie, using an electric arc furnace powered by renewable energy to convert scrap steel into rebar for construction. This mill will have an annual production capacity of up to 450,000 tonnes of green rebar and wire rod when it begins operations in 2026.
AusCon Metals & Machinery operates the only family-owned scrap metal shredder in Western Australia, utilizing state-of-the-art mobile machinery to process and handle various metal scraps.
With these efforts, Western Australia is contributing significantly to the country's scrap steel collection and recycling initiatives, ensuring a more sustainable future.
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Processing scrap steel
Steel is infinitely recyclable and Australia has a mature and sophisticated recycling supply chain. InfraBuild, an Australian steel manufacturer, is one of the country's largest scrap metal recycling businesses, specialising in the safe handling, collection, processing, and distribution of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal.
InfraBuild's 21 recycling facilities, supplemented by 1 regional NSW site operating as Matthews Metal Management, contribute around 1.4 million tonnes of recycled metals annually to their steelmaking operations. They have sites across the world, including in the US, Poland, Hong Kong, and a network of scrap metal traders in China, India, South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK.
InfraBuild offers free drop-off for scrap steel at all its recycling yards, including tin, wire, roofing, hot water systems, white goods, and electrical waste. They also accept old BBQs, car/truck batteries, weight sets, trailers, old trampolines, bikes, and more. The company assists with clearing farms and rural properties of old vehicles, farm machinery, and tools.
InfraBuild collects dust generated by their Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF), which has a high zinc content. This by-product of the steelmaking process is sold and reprocessed to extract the zinc, which then re-enters the global zinc supply chain.
In Western Australia, Green Steel of Western Australia (GSWA) has two large-scale low-emissions steel and iron projects. The first is a $400 million green steel recycling mill in Collie, using an electric arc furnace powered by renewable energy to convert Western Australian scrap steel into rebar used in construction. The second is a $2.5 billion Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant near Geraldton, which will convert Western Australian iron ore into green DRI for export.
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Commercial outcomes for by-products of steelmaking
Steel is an intrinsically sustainable construction material due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and ability to be recycled continually with no degradation in performance. Recycled steel offers significant energy and raw material savings, saving over 1400 kg of iron ore, 740 kg of coal, and 120 kg of limestone for every 1000 kg of steel scrap made into new steel.
In Western Australia, the transition to cleaner steelmaking pathways is being driven by the Western Australian Climate Policy, which prioritises clean manufacturing and future industries. The region is well-positioned to scale up the production of green steel due to its abundant renewable energy and hydrogen sources, as well as its large deposits of iron ore.
Several projects are underway in Western Australia to develop a green steel industry, including:
- A $400 million green steel recycling mill in Collie, using an electric arc furnace powered by renewable energy to convert scrap steel into rebar for construction.
- A $2.5 billion Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant near Geraldton, which will convert iron ore into green DRI for export using natural gas and eventually green hydrogen.
- Fortescue's development of a green 'pit to product' supply chain in the Pilbara region, including a US$50 million Green Iron Commercial Plant with an electric smelting furnace using renewable energy and green hydrogen reduction technology to produce high-purity green iron.
- The South Australian Government's Green Iron and Steel Strategy, positioning South Australia as a leader in decarbonised steelmaking.
These projects demonstrate Western Australia's commitment to developing a green steel industry and achieving net-zero targets.
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Frequently asked questions
Steel recycling is the process of reusing steel scrap to form new products. Steel is infinitely recyclable and has a very high capture rate through the recycling chain.
The process of recycling steel involves handling, collecting, processing, and distributing steel scrap. Steel scrap is fed into a mill and turned into a new product.
Steel recycling saves energy and raw materials. For every 1000 kg of steel scrap made into new steel, over 1400 kg of iron ore, 740 kg of coal, and 120 kg of limestone are saved. Steel recycling also reduces landfill waste.
Green Steel of Western Australia (GSWA) has a large-scale, low-emissions steel recycling mill in Collie that uses an electric arc furnace powered by renewable energy to convert scrap steel into rebar for construction. InfraBuild, Australia's second-largest metals recycler, also has a recycling facility in Western Australia that contributes to the annual recycling of 1.4 million tonnes of metals.
InfraBuild and Green Steel of Western Australia (GSWA) are two prominent examples of steel recycling businesses in Australia. InfraBuild has 21 recycling facilities across Australia and specializes in the safe handling, collection, and processing of scrap metal. GSWA focuses on low-emissions steel recycling and has a mill that will produce up to 450,000 tons of green rebar and wire rod annually when it starts production in 2026.
