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Food processing equipment
Accepted at 1 location
Food processing equipment includes commercial and industrial machinery used to prepare, package, and handle food, typically made of stainless steel and other metals.
Source: epa.gov : Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements | US EPA (1)
Food processing equipment Summary
Also known as: Kitchen equipment, food processor, harvesting equipment, meat processing equipment, grain milling equipment, canning equipment, food storage equipment
Accepted Locations

Stop by during open hours, call or email if you are unsure whether or not we will be able to accept your equipment.
Do not leave equipment outside our facility during non-operating hours without prior confirmation.
Last updated on July 2, 2026 by Green Star GM
About Food processing equipment
What it is
Food processing equipment commonly includes items made of stainless steel, such as food preparation machinery, commercial kitchen equipment, and chemical containers. This equipment ranges from small kitchen appliances to large industrial processing machinery. Working food processing equipment can often be sold or donated; however, when it reaches the end of its useful life, the metal components retain significant recycling value.(2, 3, 6)
How it’s recycled
The recycling process begins with collecting scrap from various sources, followed by careful sorting to separate different grades and compositions using technologies like X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to identify exact composition, then the stainless steel scrap is fed into industrial shredders that break down the material into smaller, more manageable pieces for efficient melting. The melting stage uses high-temperature electric arc furnaces that are typically used for remelting post-consumer steel scrap due to their efficiency with recycled materials.(2, 6, 7)
How to prepare it
Stainless steel recycling from food plant shutdown operations requires specialized knowledge of food-grade regulations and decontamination procedures, with the process beginning with careful plant decommissioning that prioritizes worker safety and regulatory compliance, as every surface that contacted food products must be properly cleaned and certified before materials can enter the recycling stream. Before recycling, it helps to remove loose trash, wood, rubber, and plastic when practical, and machinery scrap should be checked for fluids, sealed parts, or attached materials that may need review.(2, 4, 7)
Common mistakes
EPA regulations under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act require that refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment that is typically dismantled on-site before disposal (such as retail food refrigeration and industrial process refrigeration) must have refrigerant recovered in accordance with EPA's requirements for servicing prior to their disposal. Mixed loads of different stainless steel grades are usually valued at the lowest grade present, and contamination with non-stainless components, plastics, rubber, and other contaminants can prevent price reductions or even rejection by buyers.(1, 2, 6)
Environmental impact
The main environmental impact of food machinery (95%) is due to the use phase, primarily from electricity consumption which is responsible for 40-70% of eutrophication, acidification, and global warming potentials. Unlike many materials that degrade during recycling, stainless steel maintains its essential properties through unlimited recycling cycles.(2, 5)
Sources & additional reading
- Stationary Refrigeration Safe Disposal Requirements | US EPA epa.gov
- What is Stainless Steel Scrap: Learn the Basics | Okon Recycling okonrecycling.com
- Types of Industrial Scrap Metal | Greenway Metal Recycling greenwaymetalrecycling.com
- What is the Process to Recycle Stainless Steel Safely from a Food Plant Shutdown? | Okon Recycling okonrecycling.com
- Full article: Manufacturing, use phase or final disposal: where to focus the efforts to reduce the environmental impact of a food machine? tandfonline.com
- What is Scrap Stainless Steel and Why is it Valuable? | Okon Recycling okonrecycling.com
- Steel Recycling for Heavy Equipment and Industrial Scrap pennmarrecycle.com
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