Recycling metallic products is a gift that keeps on giving. For starters, it helps conserve the environment and leads the production of affordable metallic products. Secondly, it creates above-ground mines that never run dry.
Chances are you only think of recycling plastic, bottles, and beer cans when you see the 3 Rs. Reduce, reuse, recycle doesn’t apply only to paper, plastics, and cans. That’s only a fraction of the recyclable materials. Metallic objects are recyclable, too.
Yes, instead of throwing out old machines and appliances, you can sell them to a scrap metal dealer. Scrap metal recycling not only gets you a little bit of money from scrap metal dealers, but also lets you help conserve the environment.
Promote environmental protection
All items, including the metallic objects you throw out with the trash, end up in a landfill. Unfortunately, landfills are associated with numerous health and environmental hazards. From air pollution and vermin infestation to polluting water bodies and heavy metal poisoning, dumps are a severe threat.
Scrap metals and electronic devices that end up in landfills increase the likelihood of mercury poisoning. Electronic devices, from cars to laptops, contain a little amount of mercury. It’s also a host of other toxins, such as lead, lithium, phosphorous coating, and brominated fire retardants. Tossing them into a landfill causes the mercury and other chemicals to seep into the groundwater, poisoning the fish and wildlife. Later on, these chemicals get into your body after eating contaminated food.
Create above-ground mine
By recycling metal, you’re helping create a steady source of raw metal. Once the metal is mined and smelted, it can be recycled endlessly for years. Tapping into the available metallic resources amounts to creating an above-ground mine.
Recycling does away with the expensive mining and extraction process by letting smelting companies work with the metal that’s already on the surface. Low overhead costs translate into a win-win situation for all since it lowers the cost of metal, a core component in the construction and manufacturing sector.
Recycling results in a 92% drop in the amount of electricity needed to extract aluminum, 56% for steel, and 90% for copper. Better still, recycling reduces mining waste by 97% while cutting down the water consumptions by 40%
Increase job opportunities
Recycling is a multi-billion-dollar industry that not only employs tens of thousands of people, but also helps to conserve the environment. Recycling metal involves smelting and forging the scrap metal into new products. Since metal doesn’t breakdown or decompose, it can be smelted and reused countlessly.
A steady supply of scrap metal resulting in the cropping up of many mental smelting facilities in all corners of the country. Such facilities can employ thousands of people and create other opportunities in complementary sectors. Better yet, they can keep up their production without damaging the surrounding environment.
Shipping an old fridge, toaster, or computer to a scrap metal dealer is a gift that keeps on giving. In addition to selling them for spare change, you help create a better living environment for you and your loved ones. Scrap metal dealers extract the recyclable metallic bits from these items before shipping them to smelting plants. Recycling metal leads to the production of affordable metallic products, saving you a lot of money.