Recycling Metal Dust

Okay scrappers, I have a question concerning recycling metal dust. This product is created in many machine shops around the world. It is basically a combination of metal dust, stone dust and a very small amount of coolant. Metal Dust is created when using a large grinder to plane or grind small amount of metal/steel from a part or product. I have been given 42 - 55 gallon steel drums full of Metal dust, each drum weighs about 1800lbs.

My question is. Do any of you know of a scrap yard that will buy it? Or of any seller in general? I have used about 10 drums of it on my driveway to fill in low spots ( pot holes) however, I have A LOT of it left over.

My local scrap yard won't buy it, because they say the foundries do not want it, as the available metal/steel basically disappears once they begin the melt down process.

Any Ideas? or Any Suggestions??


EDIT: This is not Ni Temp Nickel , It is just cold rolled steel, for the most part.

If nothing else you can always put some in other scrap you get (washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc), same way other folks (including me) put small pieces of scrap in these appliances. Large appliances are great for holding small pieces of scrap. It will increase their weight and you can eventually get rid of it. May take a little while though. I would not put too much in any one appliance.

So its basically shot dust then. I have seen yards briquette the material or mix it with the turning and borings. I have always been told if a magnet sticks to it you can mix it with something.

I would definitely ask your yard before you start filling all your scrap appliances with it. Any metal dust is a highly undesirable item for yards. Its caustic to breath and must be slowly salted in with loads going to the mill.

About 2 weeks ago I had a guy bring in a half full 5 gallon bucket of lead dust from a shooting range intake. He brought it in open and someone left it in my office. You can bet that I immediately called him to come get it.

Well, The local scrap yard has been very good to me, I wouldn't add it to other loads. This stuff works really well for filling in low spots and rain run-off areas of my long gravel driveway, so I will most likely just keep bringing it home a little bit at a time and using it to fill areas such as that, it compacts and solidifies quite nicely.

I really do appreciate the replies to this post.

If anyone else has an idea, I am open to it.

Thanks Again. Happy Scrapping !!!

Are you sure you are gonna fill potholes in your driveway with it. You realize that there if its grindings there is some sort of fluid it in from the grinding process and you are ok with that being in your driveway. Is the stuff even EPA approved as fill. You better hope it doesn't pollute the water supply. The hell with it have you even thought this fully through at all??????????

Yep I have thought it through. The coolant in it is EPA approved, not as fill, but it wont contaminate my water supply either. I spoke with my local county extension agent before using it as fill. The coolant breaks down in water and it isn't hazardous. Thanks for your concern. Have a good day/evening.

I'm just curious but do you know what the coolant is? Sounds like you have an excellent source of pothole material.

Dust Suppression & Smoke Control for The Metal Recycling is very common but it very dangerous for health of workers. Hazardous dust and smoke from metal recycling can create potential health hazards for workers and the surrounding neighborhood. Dust and smoke are commonly generated when shredding, grinding and torching metals.

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If anyone else has an idea, I am open to it.

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If your yard has a crusher for the cars then they could add some to each car crushed to increase their loads.