Hot-dip galvanised old scrap is accepted at all German ZINQ sites

Scrap is probably the oldest example of recycling in human history. Metals can theoretically be melted down and reprocessed an infinite number of times without significant loss. However, old galvanised steel presents a challenge in steel recycling, as the zinc coating makes it difficult to identify and assess the steel quality. In the spirit of the circular quality of hot-dip galvanised steel, it is therefore better to separate zinc and steel before steel recycling and establish a separate material cycle for this purpose.

An important step towards this is the ReZINQ system: ZINQ, Europe's largest hot-dip galvanising service provider, is now offering all customers the opportunity to deposit old galvanised components free of charge. This allows the zinc coating to be separated from the steel at the end of its useful life in a dedicated dezincing process, before the zinc and steel are recycled separately in closed-loop systems.

„As part of our integrated innovation and sustainability strategy Planet ZINQ and as part of our Cradle to Cradle commitment, we already utilise zinc residues such as zinc ashes and hard zinc that arise during hot-dip galvanising – this allows us to reduce our use of primary zinc even today., explains Lars Baumgürtel, managing partner of ZINQ. „With the ReZINQ return system, we make an important contribution to closing the loop for externally generated, hot-dip galvanised end-of-life products. Through ReZINQ and the separation of steel and zinc, both materials can be recycled in more homogenous cycles. This increases the potential for processes with higher secondary material rates and the circular quality of the metals used.“

How does ReZINQ work?

Customers bring the old galvanised components to one of the 26 ZINQ locations in Germany or have them collected by the ZINQ mobile collection service, depotmobil. At the location, after an incoming inspection of the old material, the zinc is separated from the steel in a closed-loop system, and the recovered zinc is fed back into the process. The steel, separated from the zinc, enters the well-established recycling loop for old steel scrap (electric arc furnace route).

Unlike the stripping of components for the purpose of re-galvanising, the handover of old galvanised components is free of charge, provided they are suitable for recycling without further treatment.

Why ReZINQ?

Closing technical material cycles is an important step in avoiding waste and resource depletion. The goal is closed product cycles, excluding substances that prevent recycling to the same quality. This circular quality is evidenced by Cradle to Cradle certification for duroZINQ and microZINQ.

However, circular quality means more than just massive resource conservation through the lossless closing of material cycles:

ZINQ’s focus on circularity as a business model stems directly from the CO₂ reduction potential of circular products and processes. According to studies by research organisations such as SITRA (Material Economics, ‘The circular economy – a powerful force for climate mitigation’, 2018), the potential for reduction stands at 60 % of current CO2 emissions if the economy were to transition to circular production and quality. Circularity is therefore the most powerful lever for climate protection in industry. The increased use of recycled zinc further enhances the climate-positive contribution of durable zinc coatings and is a key factor not only for responsible resource use but also for life-cycle CO₂ management.

To achieve the goal of using ever more recycled zinc in primary quality, the ReZINQ take-back system is a significant step by ZINQ on the path to the circular economy and therefore to a future without waste.