The Scrap Collection per Industry Sector and the Circulation Times of Steel in the U.S. between 1900 and 2016, Calculated Based on the Volume Correlation Model

Abstract

On the basis of the Volume Correlation Model (VCM) as well as data on steel consumption and scrap collection per industry sector (construction, automotive, industrial goods, and consumer goods), it was possible to estimate service lifetimes of steel in the United States between 1900 and 2016. Input data on scrap collection per industry sector was based on a scrap survey conducted by the World Steel Association for a static year in 2014 in the United States. The lifetimes of steel calculated with the VCM method were within the range of previously reported measured lifetimes of products and applications for all industry sectors. Scrapped (and apparent) lifetimes of steel compared with measured lifetimes were calculated to be as follows: a scrapped lifetime of 29 years for the construction sector (apparent lifetime: 52 years) compared with 44 years measured in 2014. Industrial goods: 16 (27) years compared with 19 years measured in 2010. Consumer goods: 12 (14) years compared with 13 years measured in 2014. Automotive sector: 14 (19) years compared with 17 years measured in 2011. Results show that the VCM can estimate reasonable values of scrap collection and availability per industry sector over time.

Keywords

• lifetime of steel
• steel scrap
• circulation
• industry sector
• dynamic material flow model
• recycling rate
• material flow analysis