Metals, Steel, Aluminum & Coil Processing worked example

Scrap Recovery Rate at 65% sortation and yield efficiency: a worked example in metals, steel, aluminum & coil processing

This worked example runs the scrap recovery rate numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 65% sortation and yield efficiency instead of the typical 90%. Estimate scrap recovery rate by dividing scrap recovered by run time and applying a realistic recovery efficiency to get pounds per hour.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Scrap metal recovered: 12,000 lb (held at the documented default)
  • Recovery run time: 8 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Sortation and yield efficiency: 65 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 90)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Scrap recovery rate = scrap recovered รท run time.
  • Effective recovery rate works out to 975 lb/hr at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Raw throughput works out to 1,500 lb/hr at these inputs.
  • Recovery efficiency works out to 65 % at these inputs.
  • Run time works out to 8 hr at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where sortation and yield efficiency sits at 90% and the headline result is 1,350 lb/hr, this scenario comes in 27.78% below the baseline at 975 lb/hr.
  • Use it at shift end to grade performance, when comparing two pieces of recovery equipment, or when quoting a scrap-processing contract. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Effective recovery rate: 975 lb/hr (headline result)
  • Raw throughput: 1,500 lb/hr
  • Recovery efficiency: 65 %
  • Run time: 8 hr

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Scrap Recovery Rate calculator, set sortation and yield efficiency to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.