Appliances or domestic metal scrap in bad working condition can be donated to a local recycling center. Other sources of metal scrap used in steel recycling are heavy melting steel, cast iron from pipes and engine blocks, manganese steel used in mining industry and rails from train tracks. Used cars are being accepted and towed by local donation centers regardless of their working condition. Landfills do not accept used automobiles since they have parts than are still valuable for further reuse. Even if the car has extensive damages, auto dismantlers can still salvage some parts that can be recycled. These recycling companies remove the batteries, gas tank and drain the car of other fluids before these are flattened and sold to ferrous metals scrap dealers.
Cars that have worn their usefulness and are taken off the road will be sent to a recycling facility. Most steel products today have already come from recycled steel. Steel, like aluminum and copper, is a product that can be recycled indefinitely to be used again and again and still retain its quality and properties. This process not only minimizes the environmental pollution but also conserves a significant amount of energy. Through steel recycling, the steel industry saves enough energy in a year to provide electricity to 18 million homes for one year.