Metal recycling has played a crucial role in the global manufacturing supply chain. Scrap metal recycling has helped transform wasted materials into raw materials, fueling the global manufacturing supply chain. The current metal recycling market in the US is projected to grow from 630 million tons in 2019 to 890 million tons by 2025 at a CAGR of 7.14%. This is attributed to the country’s increasing demand for metal, urbanization, and industrialization.
Even the villages like Schaumburg, with a population of 73.5k, are contributing by launching a “Comprehensive Green Action Plan” for metal recycling in Schaumburg, Il. It is a northwestern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, where the government and its responsible citizens have together brought this recycling plan to great success. Under this plan, the residents have created an outlet to recycle unwanted and broken metal items (like holiday lights, computers, bicycles, batteries, etc.) by dropping them off at designated locations throughout the village.
Scrap metal recycling and growth
There are hundreds of companies in the USA engaged in recycling every kind of metal. It would not be wrong to say that with these forces at play, the value and success of recycling have become increasingly significant in the whole country. The metal recycling industry has become a growth industry not just out of increasing necessity but also due to its profitability. Thanks to technological advancements that continue to develop new and more efficient recycling methods, the process has become more accessible and cost-effective today. Moreover, people feel good about their contribution to the healthy environment through recycling but fail to realize that it is not just an effort to improve the environment; it also promotes employment and the economy.
Five interesting facts about metal recycling that will make you think
#1 Steel is the most recycled metal in the world
You will be surprised to know that steel is a metal that can be recycled infinitely without deteriorating its quality. Plus, to recycle steel, you require 60% less energy than is needed to manufacture one.
#2 Recycling aluminum can save a lot of energy
When you recycle aluminum, you can save energy equivalent to the energy required to light a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours or to run a computer/ television for 3 hours. Isn’t that great?
#3 Scrapping your cars means reusing tons of metal
Giving your old, unwanted car to a scrapyard is always advisable instead of a junkyard. This is because by doing so, you can help save 1135 kg of iron ore, 50 kg of limestone, and around 650 kg of coal, which is about two tonnes of raw material.
#4 It takes decades for metal to decompose when it reaches landfills.
Yes, you read it right! Once a metal reaches a landfill, it takes decades to decompose. For instance, a steel food container will start to disintegrate after five decades; in contrast, an aluminum tin will take 20 decades to decompose.
#5 Metal recycling also helps in reducing air and water pollution
You might not know that metal recycling not only helps in reducing land pollution but also air and water pollution. Just by recycling steel, there can be a 75% decrease in water pollution and an 85% reduction in air pollution.
After going through this article, hopefully, you also want to contribute to the world economy and environmental protection. If so, start looking for a recycler popular for metal recycling in Schaumburg, Il, and find out what they accept for recycling. This is important because every recycler is focused on different aspects of recycling and may accept only specific metals in a particular condition. So it is better to acquaint yourself beforehand; otherwise, valuable resources will continue to become useless in the landfill.
