Yes, metal roofs are recyclable. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, “nearly 70 million tons of domestic steel scrap [is used] in the production of new steel”. The recyclability of steel scrap “conserves energy, emissions, raw materials and natural resources” - greatly reducing its ecological footprint. In addition, over “90 percent of the co-products from the steelmaking process are reused or recycled…[such as] slag, water, gasses, dusts and energy”.
What is more pertinent than a material’s recyclability, is its actual recycle rate. Virtually any material is recyclable, but the costs associated with recycling can far exceed the market value of the recycled material, so its recyclability is not economically viable. Steel has the highest recycle rate of any construction material except copper, proving its economic recycling viability.
In contrast, for instance, asphalt shingles (made from crude oil, paper, or fiberglass, mineral filler/stabilizer, and gravel) are “recyclable”, but not with economic viability. Hence their actual recycle rate is extremely low. Consequently, According to the MCA, asphalt shingle tear-offs contribute 20 billion tons of waste to landfills each year. Click to read more.