Each year, it is estimated that the scrap metal recycling sector salvages 10 million tonnes of metal in Canada, amounting to roughly $3 billion. Scrap metal recycling is about more than just money – it also has a lot of environmental benefits. Let’s take a closer look at what these benefits are and why you should be more invested in scrap metal recycling in Grande Prairie.
It Saves on Resource Production
Recycling your scrap metal means that metal gets reused in new processes. That can have a massive impact on the environment as it means less effort and fewer resources need to go into pulling new metal out of the ground and processing it to make it fit for use.
It’s estimated that recycling steel and tin cans can save between 60% and 74% on the energy used to produce them from raw materials. Using less energy means emitting fewer greenhouse gases. In an era where climate change is looming large on everyone’s mind, that reduction in emissions can be huge.
To produce new metals, the following process has to happen:
Large swaths of land must be cleared to make way for a mine
Explosives may be used, causing potentially more destruction to the landscape
Mining equipment must be operated, which comes with significant emissions
The raw ore must be refined using a range of chemical processes
Once the mine is exhausted, it must be reclaimed, a process that can take years or even decades to complete
With all that in mind, it’s clear that recycling scrap metal is the better option. Recycling is much more environmentally friendly!
It Saves on Landfill Space
When you recycle your scrap metal instead of throwing it in the garbage, you keep it out of the landfills. That reduces the amount of land used and frees up space for other uses. While it may not seem like much for you to keep a couple of cans out of the landfill, image hundreds, or even thousands of people doing the same thing. That’s a lot of space saved!
It’s Sustainable
Metal ore is a limited resource. There may be a lot of it in the Earth’s crust, but there is still a limited amount of it, and not all of it is possible to extract. Recycling your scrap metal is a sustainable practice that ensures we’ll still have lots of metal to go around in the future.
Scrap metal recycling lends itself to a concept called the circular economy, one where there is continual recycling or upcycling and there is little to no waste.
Recycle Your Scrap Metal with Radius Metal and Salvage in Grande Prairie
When you’re looking for a trusted solution for scrap metal recycling in Grande Prairie, you can come to Radius Metal and Salvage.
We are your one-stop service provider that can meet all your scrap metal recycling needs, whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or farmer. We accept a range of both ferrous and non-ferrous materials, including appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and even old vehicles. Contact us today for more information.
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