A method of operating a channel induction furnace so as to receive electric arc furnace (EAF) dust, basic oxygen furnace (BOF) sludge/dust and/or other iron and volatile metals containing materials as a feed stream on a batch, continuous or semi-continuous basis together with a iron-containing material feed, and therefrom produce an iron-containing hot metal or pig iron product while recovering iron value from the feed materials and recovering volatile metal components contained in the feed materials.