<p>The metallurgical sector has a significant environmental impact, accounting for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This study develops a quantitative framework to estimate the greenhouse gas emission reduction potential of scrap-based secondary production for aluminum, iron and steel, copper, and magnesium and applies the framework to the United States as an empirical case. While this study focuses on a specific country’s data, it aims to address a much broader industrial challenge by showing how turning wasted scrap into recycled materials can lead to clear and measurable benefits for the climate. The findings indicate that incorporating currently non-recycled scrap metals into secondary production could result in an average annual reduction of 128.05 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, including 35.46 million tons from aluminum, 86.64 million tons from iron/steel, 4.36 million tons from copper, and 1.58 million tons from magnesium. This potential reduction corresponds to approximately 2.3% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the United States. The results show that recycling-based secondary metal production may provide meaningful support for climate targets while also highlighting a wider perspective relevant to industrial economies seeking to connect resource efficiency with lower-carbon production pathways.</p>