Benefits of Recycling
Environmental Benefits
Recycling metal has numerous environmental benefits. Compared with products made from recycled metal, production of new metal from mined ore releases a far greater amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from production of new metal from mined ore may influence climate change and cause harmful levels of air pollution. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries reports that recycling metal may cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 300 million and 500 million tons. In addition, using scrap metal in lieu of virgin ore generates 97 percent less mining waste and uses about 40 percent less water.
Energy Conservation Recycling metal conserves energy that would otherwise be expended in drilling ore, refining metal and other processes involved in metal manufacturing. Energy conservation levels vary according to the product type. For example, recycling aluminum uses 95 percent less energy than deriving it from raw materials and recycling steel uses 60 percent less energy. In more personal terms, if you recycle a single aluminum beverage can, you help conserve enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for more than four hours.
Ore Conservation The amount of metal ore in our planet is finite. Recycling reduces the amount of virgin ore mined from this limited supply by providing manufacturers with a source of already-mined metal. For example, recycling a pound of aluminum saves 4 lbs. of bauxite ore. Recycling a pound of steel conserves about 1.25 lbs. of ore.
Economic Benefits Besides having numerous environmental benefits, metal recycling has tremendous economic benefits. The cost of recycled metal, is generally much lower than the cost of metal obtained from primary sources.
Energy Conservation Recycling metal conserves energy that would otherwise be expended in drilling ore, refining metal and other processes involved in metal manufacturing. Energy conservation levels vary according to the product type. For example, recycling aluminum uses 95 percent less energy than deriving it from raw materials and recycling steel uses 60 percent less energy. In more personal terms, if you recycle a single aluminum beverage can, you help conserve enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for more than four hours.
Ore Conservation The amount of metal ore in our planet is finite. Recycling reduces the amount of virgin ore mined from this limited supply by providing manufacturers with a source of already-mined metal. For example, recycling a pound of aluminum saves 4 lbs. of bauxite ore. Recycling a pound of steel conserves about 1.25 lbs. of ore.
Economic Benefits Besides having numerous environmental benefits, metal recycling has tremendous economic benefits. The cost of recycled metal, is generally much lower than the cost of metal obtained from primary sources.