Can Rust Be Recycled?

Do you have some metal at home that you would like to recycle but aren’t sure whether it will be accepted or not? Then find out, can rust be recycled in this article.

You can recycle metal that has rusted. Simply take it to your local metal recycling center where it will be processed. 

You might not get as much for it as you would for scrap metal that is in good condition.

Are you recycling metal for the first time? Then take a look at the following information that will help you face the challenges of treating and recycling rusty metal.

Can You Scrape off Rust?

When metal is in contact with water for a long time it begins to oxidize. This leaves your tools or metal objects looking kind of old and nasty. 

But, although you may not be able to fix the problem in its entirety, there are some things that you can do to improve the look of the metal. 

Coming up next are just a few methods that will help you to remove rust from metal. 

1. Rinse the metal then cover it in baking soda. Leave the rusty metal covered in baking soda for one hour. Then use a scouring brush or steel wool to scrape the rust off of the metal. 
2. Submerge the rusty metal in neat white vinegar overnight or for 8 hours. Then remove the metal from the vinegar, rinse it and use a scouring brush or steel wool to scrape the rust off of the metal.
3. Add a couple of spoons of citric acid to a bowl of hot water. Soak the rusty metal in the bowl overnight or for 8 hours. Then use a scouring brush or steel wool to scrape the rust off of the metal. 
4. Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto the rust and let that soak for one hour. Brush coarse salt back and forth over the metal to slowly remove the rust. Repeat as necessary.

As you can see, it is possible to scrape the rust off of a metal item. But before you do so, it is important that you soften the rust and break it down as much as possible. 

This will make it easier for the rust to break away from the metal. This will also ensure that the metal remains intact as you chip away at the rust.

What Can You Do With Rusty Metal?

Rusted metal is really a pain. It damages your metal over time and it looks unsightly. The best cure for rusted metal is to prevent it from rusting in the first place. But how? By making sure that your metal stays dry and drying it when it gets wet. 

But what should you do if your metal has already rusted? Here are three ways to solve this problem:

1. Try to scrape the rust off of the metal. If your metal is rusty all is not lost. You can try to salvage it. You can do so by trying to scrape the rust off of it. One of the best ways to save it is to soak the rusted metal in a solution and then scrape the rust away using steel wool or a scouring brush. Here are a couple of solutions that you can soak your rusty metal in:
   1. Baking soda
   2. White vinegar
   3. Citric acid
   4. Lemon juice and coarse salt
2. Take the metal to the recycling center. If your metal is lightly rusted, you can take it to your local metal recycling center. You may not get as much for the metal had it been in good condition, but they should still take it off you.
3. Cover the rust in a special primer. Some handyman stores sell a special primer that you can use to coat over rusted metal. These primers restore the metal to unoxidized condition. This makes it easier for you to paint over the metal and use it again.

Can You Turn Rust Into Metal?

Do you have some metal that has rusted? Then you might want to hold onto it before you think about throwing it out. 

With a little patience and a healthy serving of elbow grease, you can restore the rust back to metal. How? In just a few steps:

1. Soak the metal in a solution that will break the rust down. There are many home remedies that make up great overnight soaking solutions for rusty metal. If you cannot submerge your rust, soak clothes in the solutions then wrap them around the rusty metal. 
2. Use a scouring brush or steel wool to gently break down the rust. 
3. Repeat these steps. Rust is stubborn, so once you’ve got the initial layer off, you might need to soak the rust in a fresh batch of solution. You can then have another go at scrubbing it away.

Final Thoughts

Do you have a lot of scrap metal hanging around? Then you might feel like you’re stuck with it indefinitely if it has gone rusty. 

But is there anything you can do with rusty metal? Can rust be recycled?

As we have seen in this article, rust can be recycled. Simply take your rusted scrap metal to your local metal recycling center. 

Alternatively, you can even try scrubbing the rust away with one of the rust removal tips we’ve seen in this article. Then you can paint over the metal and it will shine again like new!