Resource recycle is one of the major methods to attain circular economy. In this manner, a plant will try to use residues of other industries as its raw materials and will provide its by-products, with or without modification, to other industries for reutilization. Thus not only can reduce its cost of material but also can reduce the impact to the environment. There is significant role for steel and integrated steel mills to play in circular economy and to make contributions as following.


Steel can be constantly recycled and re-manufactured without degradation of its property. According to the report of UNEP, the recycling rate of steel in the world is as high as 90%. Since the energy for steel to re-manufacture is much less relatively, the total greenhouse emission in the life cycle for steel is less than the other comparative materials.

BF slag is the process residue with largest quantity in CSC. It is a hot molten state when just generated from BF. When quenched with water jets the glassy water-quenched BF slag is formed. The ground water-quenched BF slag can be dried and ground to manufacture BF slag power which is commonly mixed with cement and aggregate to produce premixed concrete due to its similar chemical properties with cement. The BF slag power can also be mixed with cement to manufacture BF cement with following outstanding environmental performance.

The major components of the dust and sludge are iron, carbon and calcium. They can be used as raw materials for cement or zinc plants. Also through residual material treatment plant, high value added zinc oxide can be produced as the raw material for paint and chemical industries.

The surface of steel may oxidize and rust during the hot rolling process. The rust must be washed away with hydrochloric acid to ensure the surface quality of steel products. Through acid recovery plant, iron oxide power is produced which can be utilized to produce magnetic parts in electronic, electric and IT devices.

Through coke making process, tar, asphalt and light oil can be produced as by-products. These by-products can be used in chemical industry to produce detergent, polymer, etc. Also asphalt can be used to produce green mesophase powder, which is material of the anod in lithium ion battery.