NEWSRecyclingAdd TopicAnnual gun melt turns weapons into rebarAn electromagnet is used to pick up some of approximately 3,500 confiscated guns to be melted down at Gerdau Steel Mill on July 19, 2018, in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. The weapons were seized in criminal investigations, probation seizures and gun buyback events, and will be recycled into steel rebar for the construction of highways and bridges.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesA member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's property and evidence department, tosses a gun into a pile for the 25th annual Gun Melt.STAN LIM, The Orange County Register Via APA truck dumps a load of guns at the Gerdau Steel Mill.STAN LIM, The Orange County Register Via APA truck dumps confiscated guns to be recycled into a pile.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesA deputy tosses guns onto a pile to be recycled.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesDeputies carry guns to be added to a pile of confiscated guns to be melted down.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesA loader carries some of approximately 3,500 confiscated guns to be melted down.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesDeputies handle some of confiscated guns to be recycled.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesAn electromagnet picks up some of the confiscated guns to be recycled.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesDeputies handle some of confiscated guns to be melted down.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesSome of approximately 3,500 confiscated guns to be melted down are piled up at Gerdau Steel Mill ready to be recycled.DAVID MCNEW, Getty ImagesFeatured Weekly Ad