Top Environmental Benefits of Scrap Metal Recycling
Posted on: 16 January 2017
In recent years, there has been increased public awareness on the need to protect the natural environment. People in developed economies like Australia now want their homes, businesses and industries to adopt strategies that can help utilise natural resources in an eco-friendly manner. Scrap metal recycling is one such strategy. It involves the recycling of old metal items so they can be given a new lease of life. Scrap metal recyclers purchase old metal from individuals, businesses or dealers, recycle it and then use it to make new products.
Scrap metal recycling is good for the environment in so many different ways. Below are some of the advantages attributed to the process.
Reduced need for mining
Some metals can be recycled over and over again almost indefinitely. This significantly reduces the need to mine for virgin metal ores. Ore mining can have undesirable effects on the environment including disrupting the physical landscape and the natural habitats on it. This can lead to serious soil erosion and permanent damage to the land. By recycling scrap metal, you relieve the environment of these detrimental effects of mining activities.
Reduced landfill waste
As the volume of scrap metal being generated from homes, businesses and industries continues to increase each year, scrap metal recycling continues to be seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to sending the solid waste to a landfill. Landfills can take up a large acreage of land, and scrap metal recycling helps save precious land.
Reduced energy demand
Many countries across the world are looking for ways to ensure efficient use of the available energy resources – Australia is no exception. Recycling scrap metal usually requires less energy compared to that required to mine for metal ores. The energy used to recycle scrap metal is by far less than that needed to operate heavy equipment at the mining site and process of the virgin metal ores.
Lower harmful gas emissions
Aside from preserving our precious land and energy resources, scrap metal recycling also helps reduce greenhouse gas releases resulting from the mining and processing of raw metal ore.
Clearly, there are lots of good environmental benefits associated with scrap recycling scrap. If you have any scrap metal you need to dispose of, it is best to sell it to a scrap metal recycler. You will not only be playing a small part in preserving the environment but you will also make some cash for your waste!
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