ELI5: how do mixed scrap metals get separated into their constituent metals for re-use?
Eg, if an old car gets crushed at a junk yard, or there’s a dumpster full of random objects made from any number of different types of metal - how are these recycled?
Do they just get melted down together to form a massive block of random metal alloy, and used in that form for… something? Or is there a way of separating out all the original metals for re-use?
See also: when a whole intact car gets crushed down to a block of about a cubic yard, including metals, plastic, rubber and everything else: what then?
u/ratscabs — 20 hours ago