Recycling Brass Shell Casings
Brass is an alloy of Zinc and copper used for corrosion resistance and low friction are required like locks, hinges, gears, bearings , ammunition, casing, zippers, plumbing, hose couplings, valves, electrical sockets and much more. It is highly recommended for its durability, recyclability, and most important is its versatility. Here, we will guide you regarding the process of recycling brass shell casings.
Recycling of the spent shell casings from ammunition is an important way to reduce the waste and preserve the environment and conservation of the natural resources.
Why It is Important to Recycle Brass Shells?
Following are some factors that are beneficial from recycling brass shell casings;
Environmental Benefits
The Brass shell casings are non bio degradable and if not recycled they can accumulate in the landfilling or the environment and hence are a serios threat for the wildlife and their habitat and ecosystem. Moreover, recycling brass can save a lot of energy than producing new brass from raw materials hence is important step for energy preservation.
Economic Advantages
Copper and Zinc can be preserved by recycling the brass and the demand is also reduced hence cost efficiency benefits both the manufacturers and consumers alike.
Recycle Ammo Brass
Ammnition is made usually from brass, therefore it is necessary to recycle ammo brass. Brass is very useful in weapon industry.
Process of Recycling Brass Shell Casings
Process for recycling brass shell casings is quite simple. Here is steps given below;
Collection of Brass Casings
- Sources : Brass shell casings are collected from various sources which include shooting ranges military training grounds and law enforcement facilities. Civilian gun enthusiasts and hunters also contribute to the supply.
- Sorting : The casings are sorted or categorized by size and caliber. Contaminants like steel and aluminum casings are separated to make sure abut the purity of brass.
Cleaning of Brass Casings
- Initial Cleaning : Either the Industrial tumblers or the ultrasonic cleaners are used for cleaning the brass casing of ammunition by removing the dirt, gun powder residue and other debris.
- De priming : Spent primers are removed from the casings. This is an important step as the primes include hazardous material including the lead which must be handled separately and carefully.
Melting and Refining of Brass
- Melting : Cleaned brass casings are melted in a furnace so that any of the remaining impurities can be skimmed off.
- Alloy Adjustment : Composition of the brass ma be regulated by adding more copper or zinc to achieve the desired results.
Forming the new Products
- Casting and rolling: The molten brass casings are casted into ingots or billets. These are then rolled into sheets and bars, which can be processed further.
- Manufacturing : Less energy is consumed in refining the brass than in producing the new brass from the raw material which results in lower emission of greenhouse gas and even more profit for the consumers and manufacturers.
Companies Recycling Brass Shell Casings | Best Company to recycle scrap brass shells for Shooting Ranges
There are many companies that recycle brass shell casings and we will tell you the best company to recycle scrap brass shells for shooting ranges as well, some of which are listed below;
Rock Island Arsenal
It is a major U.S army facilitation company that is running the large scale ammunition recycling program. hey recycle spent brass casings from military training exercises, ensuring that these materials are reused within the defense supply chain.
Freedom Metals
Freedom metals is a scrap recycling company that accepts the brass shell casings. It ensures the recovery of various metals including brass to make sure the effective reusing and repurposing of metal.
Sims Metals
Sims Metal Management is one of the world’s largest metal recyclers, operating across multiple countries. Services: They accept and recycle brass shell casings as part of their extensive metal recycling operations, contributing to sustainable resource management.
Midwest Metals
Midwest Metals is a scrap metal recycler that processes a wide range of metals, including brass. Services: They handle the collection, sorting, and recycling of brass shell casings, providing materials for various industrial applications.
Many more companies are also collecting the brass casings from various sources and recycle them and purify them properly for effective repurposing of it.
Challenges faced during recycling brass shell casings
Contamination
- Mixed Material :Other metals like aluminum and steel are also mixed with brass which make the recycling process even challenging.
- Residue Removal : Dirt Particles and the Gun powder residue removal is even more challenging.
Regulatory Compliance
- Hazardous Material : Adherence is required for lead and the other substances that tend to be hazardous for environment according to safety regulations.
- Restrictions on export : The supply chain of brass is disturbed as various countries have restrictions on export of brass sue to certain environmental hazards.
Conclusions
As we all know that recycling is part of the 3R rule hence it is very important to conserve the environment. Beside all this the recycling of useful materials is even more profitable and brass is one of those metals. Brass casings that are removed during the drill practices or training sessions are an important source brass metal hence they must be recycled effectively for environmental conservation as well for a beneficial profit. But as stated earlier the challenges must be kept in mind while recycling the brass metals to make sure that it is not an easy project.
