According to the Spanish steelmakers association Unesid, the Spanish steel industry recycled 12.5 million mt of ferrous scrap in 2011, representing a larger volume than the total domestic recycling of other metals, glass, paper and plastic.
Of the 12.5 million mt of ferrous scrap recycled in 2011 by the steel industry in Spain, 7.7 million mt consisted of ferrous scrap collected in Spain, while imported scrap accounted for 4.8 million mt.
The association noted that Spanish steel industry is the main recycler of steel scrap in Europe, together with Italy. Over 75 percent of the steel manufactured in Spain is recycled, significantly higher compared to the European average of 50 percent and compared to the world average which does not exceed 40 percent.