Metal scrap recycling also called secondary metal processing is a large industry that processes in the U S alone 56 million tons of scrap iron and steel including 10 million tons of scrap automobiles 1 5 million tons of scrap copper 2 5 million tons of scrap aluminum 1 3 million tons of scrap lead 300 000 tons of scrap zinc and 800 000 tons of scrap stainless steel and smaller