Everyone wants to help the environment, but it’s not always easy to know how to tackle what seems like such a daunting task. Fortunately, it’s often easier than people imagine. Something as simple as using a scrap metal yard in Chase, MI, can help you reduce, reuse, and recycle metal materials that would otherwise be left to waste.
Of course, trends tend to change in every industry. Scrap metal recycling is no different; it’s worth reviewing contemporary trends often. You’ll have a better understanding and appreciation of both recycling and what it delivers for the planet.
Iron and Steel
Iron and steel are by far two of the most common metals to be recycled. Steel is known for its toughness and durability. Iron is an essential component of steel, and it’s almost as resilient. Together, they’re two of the most common metals used throughout a variety of industries.
Naturally, this makes them popular for recycling. For every ton of steel that’s recycled, it avoids the need to use 1.5 tons of new iron ore. Additionally, it saves half a ton of coal and many tons of water. It also prevents those materials from taking up space in a local landfill, allowing other consumers the opportunity to use these valuable metals in other ways.
Aluminum
You’re probably most familiar with aluminum because of soda cans. Plenty of schools and local businesses recycle aluminum, but most of them specifically focus on cans. However, aluminum is in a wide array of products. You can find aluminum in electronics and even bicycles. It’s a fantastically versatile metal, and scrap metal recycling centers see tons of aluminum recycled and repurposed every year. As one of the most common metals used, aluminum is a great candidate for recycling. In fact, aluminum can be recycled over and over again to be repurposed into an amazing assortment of products.
Copper
You might find it hard to believe, but people have been recycling copper for thousands of years. It’s one of the oldest metals to be used on Earth. Today, copper is used in wiring, piping, and even for roofing. Because it’s so essential for electronics and certain construction projects, copper is highly valuable as a recycled metal. As copper is reused, there’s less demand on natural resources to produce new copper for production purposes
Zinc
You may not think of zinc as a commonly recycled metal, but it’s definitely a metal that’s valued in recycling. Zinc is used to increase the longevity of steel by protecting it from corrosion, but it’s used in a number of other applications as well. Because zinc can be recycled indefinitely without losing any of its properties or benefits, it’s a great candidate as a recycled material. Currently, around 30% of zinc is recycled, while 70% is mined. As the recycling of this metal continues to increase, mining becomes less necessary and the environment can be better preserved.
As you can see, recycling is incredibly helpful for the environment and for businesses as well. It’s a great way to give old materials a new purpose, and it keeps those same items out of community landfills.
One of the most common ways to recycle scrap metal is with salvage car removal in Chase, MI. It gives your car a second life as new and innovative products, while preventing it from clogging up a landfill or being an eyesore in your yard. If you’d like to know more about scrap metal recycling and how it helps your community, you should contact the professional team at Fair Salvage Company.