​The Environmental Benefits of Recycling Metal

Recycling is one of the greenest industries in the world and scrap metal recycling in Calgary is an underrated but crucial component of that industry. If your business produces a lot of scrap metal, or if you just have some scrap metal sitting in your garage, then you can de-clutter your property and help the environment at the same time by letting the Calgary metal suppliers and scrap metal recyclers at Federal Metals Inc. take it off your hands.

The environmental benefits of metal recycling are incredibly numerous. It all begins with the fact that recycling scrap metals eliminates the need to mine for those metals and to smelt them out of virgin ore. Metal recyclers in Calgary and around the world help to lower the number of destructive mining operations required to supply the world with the metals it needs. Recycling just one ton of steel, for example, can keep about 2,500 pounds of iron ore in the ground.

Mining operations are very destructive, even if care is taken to limit the amount of damage done to the surrounding environment. They damage delicate habitats, cause erosion, and create high levels of pollution that can continue damaging the environment long after the mine is shut down. Toxic chemical runoff coming from mines can render lakes, river systems, and ocean environments completely uninhabitable.

Scrap metal recycling is also preferable to mining for virgin ore because it uses far less energy. While it does take energy to melt down a metal for scrap metal recycling in Calgary, this is often only a fraction of the energy needed to smelt an ore. It takes about 95% less energy to recycle aluminum, 90% less to recycle copper, and 56% less to recycle steel.

Since it has lower energy requirements, the scrap metal recycling process also produces lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gasses pose a great threat to the environment, as they are the lead driving force behind climate change. Lowering our dependence on virgin ore and embracing recycled metals is one of the easiest and most effective ways to fight climate change.

Metal recyclers in Calgary are also instrumental in keeping reusable scrap metal out of landfills. This not only helps to reduce the need for mining operations, but it also helps to preserve the energy and resources needed to manage a landfill. Additionally, keeping metals out of landfills stops them from leaching toxic chemicals into the surrounding soil and water.

Help the Environment by Recycling Your Scrap Metal in Calgary

Not only is scrap metal recycling in Calgary a great way to do your part in helping out the environment, but it's also a way to make some extra money. If you have any ferrous or non-ferrous scrap metal lying around, then don't just leave it to collect dust. Bring your haul into Federal Metals Inc. for fair scrap metal prices in Calgary.

If you have any more questions about metal or copper recycling in Calgary, just contact Federal Metals Inc. today.

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