Although frequently overlooked by the general public, scrap metal recycling is one of the key elements to a cleaner environment. Metal recycling reduces pollutants, eliminates significant manufacturing and mining waste, and contributes to the overall greening of our environment.

The services SA Recycling provides to the community helps ensure that the entire recycling process is clean and efficient. In turn, this hinders potentially harmful elements from entering into our environment. We decrease the demand for metal production by making recycled materials more readily available. Production utilizing recycled materials requires significantly less energy that virgin ore extraction; which leads to lesser amounts of carbon dioxide released into the air, thereby decreasing the effects of global warming. In addition, scrap metal recycling diverts metals from our landfills, which decreases the pollution of our air and water.

The energy savings from recycled metals production alone is significant in and of itself. The following energy savings are a direct result of using recycled materials as opposed to virgin ore:

• 95% for aluminum
• 85% for copper
• 74% for iron and steel

(source: Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.)

metal recycling conserves natural resources: 

• 1ton of steel conserves 2500 lbs. of iron ore, 1400 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs. of limestone.
• 1 ton of aluminum conserves up to 8 tons bauxite ore and 14 megawatt hours of electricity.
• By eliminating hazardous materials from landfills, we help keep the air and water cleaner.

(source: Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.)

The recycling process also removes mercury switches from older automobiles, recovers lead from computer monitors and safely removes various harmful chemicals from electronics.

Steel Sustainability

According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel is the most recycled material in the world – more than aluminum, glass, and paper combined. Nearly 70 million tons of steel was recycled in the U.S. in 2006, and 75% of all American steel ends up recycled into new products. By recycling, the industry has already reduced emissions to levels well below Kyoto standards.

More facts:

• Steelmaking, based on recycling, requires less energy and material resources than using virgin iron ore from the ground.
• Automobiles are made of almost 100% recycled steel.
• The recycling rate for appliances is 80%.
• The recycling rate for steel packaging is 60%.

(Source: Steel Recycling Institute)

• New steel made from recycled iron and steel (instead of virgin ore) enables: ³
  • 74% savings in energy
  • 90% savings in virgin materials use
  • 40% reduction in water use
  • 97% reduction in mining wastes
• One recycled ton of steel conserves: ²
  • 2,500 lbs. of iron ore
  • 1,400 lbs. of coal
  • 120 lbs. of limestone
• Each year, steel recycling saves enough energy to power 18 million households. ³

¹ Steel Recycling Institute.
² Steel Recycling Institute.
³ Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI)

Source: U.S. EPA Durable Goods Calculator, WARM calculator