The process of recycling scrap metal is similar to the regular recycling procedure. Metals you no longer need will first be collected and sorted before processing them. They will be broken down into smaller pieces to be shredded or crushed and converted into sheets or blocks. Metals will then be melted and purified to remove impurities. Finally, they will be solidified to take their original form.
But why is there a need to go through that whole process when it’s easy to mine new or raw metals? People from around the world tend to disregard scrap metal recycling. Some throw metals away or leave them in sheds to rot, completely forgotten about. That’s why it is important to know why metals should be recycled, and the benefits of scrap metal recycling.
This blog post focuses on the benefits of scrap metal recycling. Understanding why it’s necessary will surely make you think twice about throwing or leaving scrap metal to be consumed by weather elements and rust.
1. Natural Resources Preservation
The biggest reason why contacting a scrap metal recycling yard like Collins Recycling is highly encouraged these days relates to the environment. To get metal, the raw material should be excavated from the earth through mining. Although mining is essential to the economy and the workforce in the country, excessive mining causes depletion of natural resources.
Exhaustion of resources causes miners to move to another area. It’s difficult to stop because of the never-ending demand for metals and other materials. If this persists, however, many spots will have large excavation holes.
Thankfully, recycling is here to save nature. The devastating effects of mining can be reduced as more people recycle their scrap metals. If you care about the environment, you should take part in this activity by contacting or looking up “scrap metal recycling near me.”
2. Emissions Reduction
By now, you’ve probably heard of global warming. It’s a phenomenon that is always in the news, and it is real. Global warming is happening and affecting us all because of the steady increase in carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. Australia has many efforts in reducing CO2 emissions, as seen by the decrease in 2020 compared to 2019 (15.37 tonnes vs 16.45 tonnes). But despite the lower numbers, there is still a lot left to control.
It’s difficult – and most likely impossible – to undo what humans have already done to the planet. The ozone layer is no longer as it used to be two decades ago. However, what’s possible is that we can help stop further damage. One simple effort is to embrace scrap metal recycling, along with solid waste recycling.
Any recycling activity helps conserve natural resources, which effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it requires less energy compared to making metals from raw ore.
3. Economic Advantage
The government saves a lot of money when you recycle. But why should you care? Mining and metal processing needs a hefty budget, which could have been channelled into more meaningful development programs, such as improving people’s living standards.
What’s more, exporting recycled metals can be beneficial for the economy as the government earns more revenue. This, in turn, improves the socio-economic status of Australians. More jobs can also become available as the government creates more programs for the unemployed. Recycling generates at least 30 more jobs than if metals are sent to the incinerator. There are also at least five jobs created in recycling than when scrap metal is delivered to a landfill.
4. Energy Management
When more people recycle metals, the lower the demand becomes for natural resources like metal ores. The energy required is reduced, as well. Processing scrap metal is not as exhaustive as mining or extracting ore from the earth. There are also several other steps involved, including purification and metal ore shaping. Although scrap metal recycling also follows at least four stages, it requires less energy than processing raw materials.
According to studies, it is possible to save up to 92% for recycling aluminium. Reprocessing scrap steel and copper can help save up to 56% and 90% of energy, respectively.
The Environmental Protection Agency of the US states that recycling one aluminium beverage can is equivalent to powering a 60-watt light bulb for over four hours. Think about the cans that you probably wasted and how much energy could have been saved. Now is an excellent time to start recycling metals.
5. Landfill Space
It’s not a secret that landfills are quickly filling up. People continue to produce rubbish several times a day. Households in Perth continue to contribute to this problem, and you could be one of them. Landfills are essential, but they are now overloaded with waste and even recyclable items. You can help preserve landfill space by checking the materials that you throw in your bin. You can recycle and repurpose metals by sending them to a scrap metal recycling yard.
What Can You Recycle?
Metals can either be ferrous or non-ferrous. Both types can be recycled. Ferrous metals are those that bear tons of iron, which are easy to segregate because they react to magnets. Some examples are steel and iron. Meanwhile, non-ferrous metals include titanium, copper, and aluminium.
You can find anything that contains metal in your home or office. Metals that can be recycled are from the end of life vehicles, machinery, and demolition waste. Here are more recyclable items that contain metal:
- Copper piping or tubing
- Aluminium pots and pans
- Stainless steel sinks
- Brass plumbing
- Ceiling fan motors
- Power outlet bars
- Electric transformers
- Backup batteries
- Aluminium furniture, such as screen doors, patio chairs, and loungers
You probably have a lot of unused metal lying around the garage or shed. You could have old power tools, bicycles, and automobile parts. Don’t wait for rust to consume them, or worse, throw them into the bin. Recycle your scrap metal.
Do you need help in recycling waste metal? Collins Recycling is your friend. Contacting us is the first step to jumpstart your recycling efforts. Just give us a call, and we will take care of the metals you no longer need. We can collect them from your location, or you can drop them off in our yard. We also pay for your scrap metal, so hurry and get recycling!
