Why should you recycle metal?
Scrap metals are no more considered as junks as people across the globe have realized the immense importance of recycling scrap metals – one of the most effective ways of preserving the finite natural resources found on earth. Scrap metal recycling is booming all over the world and you might be surprised by its scope and size. These days a considerable amount of the metals used for manufacturing products like structural steel and appliances are recovered or "recycled".
Rate of metal recycling is increasing steadily. Currently, approximately 45% of the world's steel production comes from reprocessed metal, along with 40% of the world's copper production and around one third of the world's aluminium. According to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the United States recycle around 150 million metric tons of scrap materials annually, which include 5.5 million tons of aluminium, 85 million tons of iron and steel, 2 million tons of stainless steel, 420,000 tons of zinc and 1.2 million tons of lead. Other metals like bronze, brass, tin and magnesium are reprocessed as well.
Though conservation of natural resources is the major benefit of scrap metal recycling, there are other benefits as well that have contributed to the rise in metal reprocessing.
Conservation of Natural Resources
As metals can be reprocessed and reused for countless number of times, recycling of scrap materials significantly helps in conservation of finite natural resources found on the planet. According to the estimation of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), reprocessing one ton aluminium can preserve about five tons of bauxite and recycling of one ton of steel conserves 1400 lbs. of coal, 2500 lbs. of iron ore and 120 lbs. of limestone.
Energy Conservation
The method of reprocessing scrap metal is more energy efficient than extracting and refining virgin ore through traditional process of mining. It requires remarkably less energy than producing new metals from virgin natural resources. For instance the estimated energy conserved by recycling metal is:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that reprocessing single aluminium beverage can contribute in conservation of enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for around four hours.
Less Environmental Impact
Mining raw metals from earth with traditional process, results into a number of environmental hazards. It often leads to groundwater pollution, poisonous runoff, destruction of habitat and unstable geological conditions. Moreover, mining also requires good inputs of fossil fuels. Recycling of scrap materials also requires fossil fuel input, but it is less intensive than mining. In addition, metal reprocessing also does not pollute groundwater or results in environmental pollution.
Produces Less Greenhouse Gas
During the production of new metal, a greater amount of greenhouse gas is emitted compared with manufacturing items by recycling metals. Greenhouse gas emissions lead to air pollution and other environmental hazards. According to the report of the Institute of Scrap Metal recycling Industries, the process of recycling metal may reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 300 million to 500 million tons.
Creates Space in the Landfill
Recycling of scrap metals create landfill space for true junks like non-recyclable plastics and discarded food particles. This has helped in reducing the need of space consuming new junkyards near residential centres and allows more productive use of land.
Economic Benefit
Scrap metal recycling service not only benefits environment but the process is also valued for its economic contribution as well. Studies reveal that the scrap metal recycling industry contributes about tens of billions of dollars to the gross domestic product of the country. In 2011, a seminal study was conducted by the Institute of Scrap Metal Recycling. The study shows that around 500,000 jobs were generated by the industry.
With so many important benefits, the world has seamlessly embraced this beneficial procedure of recycling metal for sustainable development. So, from now onwards think before tossing an aluminium beverage can in the junkyard.
Rate of metal recycling is increasing steadily. Currently, approximately 45% of the world's steel production comes from reprocessed metal, along with 40% of the world's copper production and around one third of the world's aluminium. According to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the United States recycle around 150 million metric tons of scrap materials annually, which include 5.5 million tons of aluminium, 85 million tons of iron and steel, 2 million tons of stainless steel, 420,000 tons of zinc and 1.2 million tons of lead. Other metals like bronze, brass, tin and magnesium are reprocessed as well.
Though conservation of natural resources is the major benefit of scrap metal recycling, there are other benefits as well that have contributed to the rise in metal reprocessing.
Conservation of Natural Resources
As metals can be reprocessed and reused for countless number of times, recycling of scrap materials significantly helps in conservation of finite natural resources found on the planet. According to the estimation of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), reprocessing one ton aluminium can preserve about five tons of bauxite and recycling of one ton of steel conserves 1400 lbs. of coal, 2500 lbs. of iron ore and 120 lbs. of limestone.
Energy Conservation
The method of reprocessing scrap metal is more energy efficient than extracting and refining virgin ore through traditional process of mining. It requires remarkably less energy than producing new metals from virgin natural resources. For instance the estimated energy conserved by recycling metal is:
- 90% for copper
- 95% for aluminium
- 60% for iron and steel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that reprocessing single aluminium beverage can contribute in conservation of enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for around four hours.
Less Environmental Impact
Mining raw metals from earth with traditional process, results into a number of environmental hazards. It often leads to groundwater pollution, poisonous runoff, destruction of habitat and unstable geological conditions. Moreover, mining also requires good inputs of fossil fuels. Recycling of scrap materials also requires fossil fuel input, but it is less intensive than mining. In addition, metal reprocessing also does not pollute groundwater or results in environmental pollution.
Produces Less Greenhouse Gas
During the production of new metal, a greater amount of greenhouse gas is emitted compared with manufacturing items by recycling metals. Greenhouse gas emissions lead to air pollution and other environmental hazards. According to the report of the Institute of Scrap Metal recycling Industries, the process of recycling metal may reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 300 million to 500 million tons.
Creates Space in the Landfill
Recycling of scrap metals create landfill space for true junks like non-recyclable plastics and discarded food particles. This has helped in reducing the need of space consuming new junkyards near residential centres and allows more productive use of land.
Economic Benefit
Scrap metal recycling service not only benefits environment but the process is also valued for its economic contribution as well. Studies reveal that the scrap metal recycling industry contributes about tens of billions of dollars to the gross domestic product of the country. In 2011, a seminal study was conducted by the Institute of Scrap Metal Recycling. The study shows that around 500,000 jobs were generated by the industry.
With so many important benefits, the world has seamlessly embraced this beneficial procedure of recycling metal for sustainable development. So, from now onwards think before tossing an aluminium beverage can in the junkyard.