vocabulary:
  name: Schnitzer Steel Industries (Radius Recycling) Vocabulary
  description: >-
    Domain vocabulary for Schnitzer Steel Industries / Radius Recycling covering
    scrap metal recycling, steel manufacturing, circular economy concepts,
    and business operations terminology.
  created: '2026-05-02'
  modified: '2026-05-02'
  terms:
    - term: Radius Recycling
      definition: >-
        The operating name adopted by Schnitzer Steel Industries in 2023 to reflect
        the company's focus on the circular economy and metal recycling. Acquired
        by Toyota Tsusho in 2025.
      tags:
        - Brand
        - Company
      synonyms:
        - Schnitzer Steel Industries
        - Schnitzer Steel

    - term: Scrap Metal
      definition: >-
        Recyclable materials left over from product manufacturing and consumption.
        Includes ferrous (iron-based) and non-ferrous (aluminum, copper, lead) metals.
      tags:
        - Materials
        - Recycling
      subtypes:
        - Ferrous Scrap
        - Non-Ferrous Scrap
        - Automotive Scrap
        - Industrial Scrap

    - term: Ferrous Scrap
      definition: >-
        Scrap metal containing iron and steel, the primary input for electric arc
        furnace steelmaking. Includes auto bodies, structural steel, and appliances.
      tags:
        - Materials
        - Steel

    - term: Non-Ferrous Scrap
      definition: >-
        Scrap metal not containing iron, including aluminum, copper, brass, lead,
        and zinc. Recovered from wiring, radiators, engines, and plumbing.
      tags:
        - Materials
        - Non-Ferrous

    - term: Pick-n-Pull
      definition: >-
        Radius Recycling's chain of self-service used auto parts stores, allowing
        customers to remove parts directly from salvage vehicles. Operates 50
        locations across North America.
      tags:
        - Brand
        - Auto Parts
        - Retail

    - term: Cascade Steel Rolling Mills
      definition: >-
        Radius Recycling's steel manufacturing facility in McMinnville, Oregon,
        that produces finished steel products from recycled scrap metal using
        electric arc furnace technology.
      tags:
        - Manufacturing
        - Steel

    - term: Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)
      definition: >-
        A steelmaking furnace that uses high-current electric arcs to melt
        recycled scrap metal. EAF steel has a significantly lower carbon footprint
        than blast furnace production from raw ore.
      abbreviation: EAF
      tags:
        - Manufacturing
        - Sustainability

    - term: Circular Economy
      definition: >-
        An economic model that aims to eliminate waste and continually circulate
        products and materials. Scrap metal recycling is a foundational circular
        economy activity, as steel can be recycled indefinitely.
      tags:
        - Sustainability
        - Business Model

    - term: Shredder
      definition: >-
        Industrial machinery that reduces large scrap metal items (cars, appliances)
        into small fragments for sorting and processing. Central equipment at
        metals recycling facilities.
      tags:
        - Equipment
        - Processing

    - term: Billet
      definition: >-
        A semi-finished steel product with a square or round cross-section, produced
        from molten recycled scrap and used as input for rolling into finished
        steel products like rebar or wire rod.
      tags:
        - Products
        - Steel

    - term: Rebar
      definition: >-
        Reinforcing bar (steel bar) produced from recycled scrap, used in concrete
        construction for structural reinforcement. A primary finished product from
        Cascade Steel Rolling Mills.
      tags:
        - Products
        - Construction

    - term: Wire Rod
      definition: >-
        A long product steel coil produced by rolling billets, used in wire drawing,
        welding, nail, and bolt production. Produced at Cascade Steel Rolling Mills.
      tags:
        - Products
        - Steel

    - term: Metals Recycling Facility (MRF)
      definition: >-
        A facility that collects, processes, and prepares scrap metal for resale
        to steel mills and foundries. Radius Recycling operates 53 such facilities
        across North America.
      abbreviation: MRF
      tags:
        - Facilities
        - Operations

    - term: Automotive Shredder Residue (ASR)
      definition: >-
        The non-metallic material remaining after a vehicle is shredded and metals
        are recovered. Also called "fluff," it presents environmental disposal challenges.
      abbreviation: ASR
      tags:
        - Waste Management
        - Environment

    - term: Export Market
      definition: >-
        International buyers (primarily Asian steel mills) of recycled ferrous and
        non-ferrous scrap. Schnitzer/Radius is one of the largest US exporters of
        recycled metals.
      tags:
        - Business
        - Trade