RECYCLING FACTS
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The recycling of metals has the potential to cut the production of greenhouse gas emissions by 300-500 million tons.
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Using scrap metal in lieu of virgin ore generates 97% less mining waste and uses 40% less water, according to the National Institute of Health.
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The amount of energy saved using various recycled metals compared to virgin ore is up to:
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92 % for aluminium
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90 % for copper
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56 % for steel
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Recycling metal creates 36 times more jobs.
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The recycling industry, in general, generates billion's of dollar annually and employs millions of workers across the World.
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Recycling one ton of aluminium saves 8 tons of bauxite ore, and recycling one ton of steel saves 2,500 pounds (1134 kg) of iron ore, a ½ ton of coal, and 120 pounds (54 kg) of limestone. By recycling one ton of steel, 40% of the water used for production is conserved, and 86% of air emissions and 76% of water pollution are reduced.
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Recycling metals also reduce ore mining waste by 97%.
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The recycling rate is a very important measure in terms of landfill diversion. Scrap metal has been recycled for thousands of years because it has been long recognized as being a more efficient process than mining and processing new ore. Recycling rates for metal are generally high, due to its value. For example, ferrous metals have a recovery rate as follows:
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for cars: 70 per cent
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for appliances: 90 per cent
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for steel cans: 66.8 per cent
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for structural steel: 98 per cent
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for reinforcement steel: 70 per cent
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However, there is still much work to be done in raising the recycling rate for metals.
For example, a U.N. report has pointed out that less than one-third of 60 metals reviewed have a recovery rate of more than 50 per cent. The report made recommendations to improve recycling rates, including:
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Encouraging product design that makes disassembly and material separation easier
Improving waste management and recycling infrastructure for complex end-of-life
products in developing countries and emerging economies
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In industrialized countries, addressing the fact that many metal-containing products are ‘hibernating’ in places likes drawers and closets and others, such as mobile phones, are all too often ending up in dustbins
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The ongoing improvement of recycling technologies and collection systems to keep pace with “ever more complex products created with an increasingly diverse range of metals and alloys.”