What materials can be recovered from a refrigerator shredding and separating plant

How the Process Works

Before shredding begins, refrigerant gas and compressor oil are safely extracted to prevent release into the atmosphere. The refrigerator shell, shelves, and internal components are then fed into an industrial shredder. Magnets, eddy-current separators, and air-classification systems sort the crushed fragments by material type. A well-designed plant, such as the RSS-030 model offered by recycling equipment specialist San Lan Technologies, can process 20 to 30 units per hour with power consumption below 150 kW.

Ferrous Metals: Steel and Iron

Steel makes up the largest share of a refrigerator by weight. The outer cabinet, door frames, hinges, and many internal brackets are all ferrous. Magnetic separation pulls this fraction out almost immediately after shredding. In a properly calibrated plant, iron recovery rates reach 95 percent or higher. Once collected, the steel is melted down and reused in construction rebar, automotive panels, or new household appliances. Because recycled steel requires roughly 75 percent less energy than virgin ore-based production, this fraction alone delivers major environmental savings.

Non-Ferrous Metals: Copper and Aluminum

Copper appears in compressor windings and electrical wiring, while aluminum is found in heat-exchanger coils and some structural parts. Both metals are non-magnetic, so they pass through the initial magnetic separator and are recovered later by eddy-current or density-based sorting. A high-quality refrigerator recycling equipment line can achieve copper and aluminum recovery rates of 90 percent or above. Copper is particularly valuable because it can be recycled repeatedly without losing conductivity. Aluminum, being 100 percent recyclable, is remelted into sheet, foil, or cast products.

Plastics: Liners, Shelves, and Panels

Refrigerators contain several types of plastic. ABS is common for inner liners, while polypropylene appears in drawers and door shelves. After shredding, an air-conveyance or flotation system separates these plastics from the heavier metal fractions. Recovery rates for plastic also reach 90 percent or more in well-optimized plants. Clean plastic flakes can be pelletized and used in lower-grade applications such as garden furniture, traffic cones, or non-food packaging. Although food-contact reuse is limited, the diversion from landfill still cuts disposal costs and reduces petroleum demand.

Polyurethane Foam and Insulation

The walls of a refrigerator are filled with polyurethane foam that contains blowing agents. In older units the blowing agent is typically a CFC or HCFC; in newer models it may be cyclopentane or isobutane. During shredding, the foam is pulverized and the blowing agent is released. A closed-loop degassing or carbon-adsorption system captures these gases so they do not escape into the atmosphere. The crushed foam itself can be compressed into bricks for landfill cover or processed into rebound insulation board. Recovery rates for polyurethane can also reach 90 percent when the plant includes proper foam-collection and compacting stages.

Refrigerants and Oils

Although refrigerants and compressor oils are not solid materials, their recovery is one of the most environmentally critical outputs of a refrigerator recycling line. Specialized extraction machines pull refrigerant from the cooling circuit before shredding begins. The oil is drained first, then the gas is evacuated into a recovery cylinder. Depending on the plant design, the gas can be sent to a distillation unit for reuse or destroyed in an approved thermal process. Proper handling prevents ozone depletion and avoids penalties under national and international environmental regulations.

What Remains?

Even after extensive separation, a small residual fraction of mixed fines, glass fragments from shelving, and electronic controls may remain. Advanced plants send this residue to further sorting or metal-refining steps, but in most cases it represents less than 5 percent of total inbound weight. Minimizing this residue is one reason why operators invest in multi-stage separation technology rather than simple shredding alone.

Summary of Recoverable Outputs

• Ferrous metals (steel) – recovery rate up to 95%, reused in construction and manufacturing.
• Copper and aluminum – recovery rate up to 90%, remelted into wire, sheet, and cast products.
• Plastics (ABS, PP) – recovery rate up to 90%, pelletized for non-food applications.
• Polyurethane foam – recovery rate up to 90%, compressed for insulation or landfill cover.
• Refrigerants and oils – extracted before shredding, sent for reclamation or safe destruction.