Recycling metal is one of the many ways we can help the environment by taking metals that would normally end up on landfill and repurposing them for further use. Generally most recycling focus is around paper, plastic and glass but a lot more could be done with metals. Metals can be recycled over and over again without any degradation to it’s quality and nearly all metals can be recycled. The process of recycling uses less energy than production.
WHAT IS METAL RECYCLING?
Metal recycling is the process of taking unwanted waste metal, processing it and creating new metal products. This process can be an ongoing cycle that brings environmental and energy benefits.
WHICH METALS CAN WE RECYCLE?
Most metals can be recycled and there are two types: ferrous and non-ferrous. Ferrous metals are metals like steel and iron which are the most common for recycling. These metals are prized for their tensile strength and durability. Non-ferrous metals include copper, aluminium, lead, brass, nickel, tin, titanium etc
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RECYCLE METAL?
There is a wide range of reasons why it’s important to recycle metals rather than waste them especially as our resources are not infinite but here are some of the most important:
Preserve Natural Resources
Recycling metals means we can preserve our resources which in turn means we can reduce the need to source new one’s which cuts down on time and energy.
Reduce Energy Consumption and Emissions
By recycling metals we reduce the amount of energy used to create new one’s. From mining, processing, shaping and treating the metals all requires lots environmentally damaging energy. Recycling metals is far more energy efficient. For example, recycled aluminium requires 95% less energy. Unsightly landfills can have huge damaging effects on the surrounding environment emissions.
Reduce The Amount Of Waste
Landfills pose a large environmental problem because their capacity is limited and they take up valuable space. By ensuring we recycle efficiently means that the materials are processed properly and therefore reduce the need for large landfill sites.
Benefit Economy
It is much more affordable to re-use waste materials that already exist than having to create natural sources from scratch. One of the best reasons to recycle is the costs savings. By recycling metals on a regular basis could reduce the cost in producing metal items and therefore cost less for you to purchase those recycled and repurposed products as a consumer.
