The Recycling Connection

Some metals contain iron and are called ferrous metals. These can include iron and steel. Nonferrous metals include brass, aluminum and copper.

Around 8 million metric tons of nonferrous scrap are produced in the US yearly. This is derived from a wide array of consumer, commercial, and industrial sources. For example, from electronic devices, soft-drink containers, automobile batteries, and radiators, aluminum siding, airplane parts, and more.

By recycling steel, Americans save enough energy annually to supply a city the size of Los Angeles with almost a decade’s worth of electricity.

Scrap metal is divided into two categories: ferrous and non-ferrous. Ferrous scrap metal is iron and steel. Non-ferrous scrap metal comprises metals other than iron or steel. Ferrous scrap accounts for most of the recycled metal.

If you too are passionate about recycling, you might want to read Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. The book explores the concept of carefully coordinating manufacturing and recycling processes to eliminate nearly all extraneous waste.

The process by which alumina is made into usable aluminum is quite energy-intensive, as the alumina must be stripped of its oxygen. This is why recycling aluminum is so important, as it saves a lot of energy as well as natural resources. In fact, making aluminum from recycled scrap takes only 4 percent of the energy needed to make it from raw materials.

The second largest export to China from the US is scrap metal. It has been an important export commodity for the US for over 100 years - support this industry simply by recycling!