3 crucial benefits to recycling metal

Presently, metal is one of the most widely used materials and the cost to our planet for mining these materials in their raw form is huge. Using recycled metal to produce new products not only reduces CO2 emissions, but also reduces the impact of mining on our natural environment and adds a significant boost to the UK’s economy.

1. Less greenhouse gas emissions

Simply put, it takes far less energy to melt and remanufacture scrap metal when compared to mining for raw materials. For example, aluminium can be melted at a relatively low temperature in order for it to be recycled. This process of recycling uses up to 95% less energy compared to extracting the raw material and the environmental benefits to recycling metal can be broken down even further. With steel production it is possible to reduce the amount of air pollution by 86%, water pollution can be up to 76% less and steel recycling process uses 40% less water.

2. It boosts the UK’s economy

In the UK, the metal manufacturing industry is one of the largest sectors and the UK is one of the largest exporters of scrap metal, with the export market continuing to grow. This means that scrap metal is rarely sent to landfill sites because recycled metal is a key component to the UK’s economy.

· Each year, approximately 2 billion aluminium and steel cans are recycled

· Roughly half of the UK’s recycled metal comes from end of life vehicles and the EU has set a target to recycle at least 85% of scrapped vehicles.

· Electrical waste is recycled as it uses a lot of non-ferrous metals

· The industry is also recycling materials from lead-acid vehicle and industrial batteries

3. A better natural environment

It goes without saying but the more the world recycles the less dependent we are on mining for raw materials. This results in reduced pollution, a better natural environment and less disruptions to our wildlife.

At LSPS one of our key aims is to reduce the amount of waste that ends up at landfill sites. We operate one of Leicestershire's largest independent ferrous and non-ferrous metal recyclers equipped with our own electronic 50 tonne weighbridge. For more information please click here or contact us on 0800 083 7807 to find out how we can help.