Copper is one of the most recycled materials, even before the world became ultra-sensitive to the excesses done to Mother Earth. This type of metal is everywhere, from the coins in your pocket to your smartphones, jewelry, television, computers, and more. And it is one material you could use and reuse over and over again without diminishing its performance.
Mined copper and recycled copper also do not have any difference in value. Thus, they were used interchangeably across industries. It only took time and a few technology updates for copper recycling to become even more prominent.
Manufacturers prefer recycled copper because they are considerably cheaper, coming with a few more gains. Well, guess what? The benefits of recycling metals, including copper, go beyond saving some landfill space.
- Significant savings on fossil fuels.
Mined copper requires a significant amount of fossil fuels. Although recycling copper requires energy, it is not as much needed as refining mined copper. As a result, recycled copper only uses about 10% of the fossil fuels you will need to extract from a new copper source. That’s a lot of savings, which the world badly needs right now in the face of the harrowing consequences of climate change.
2. There’s no need to mine to meet copper demand.
Copper lasts forever. If people learned how to put it back into circulation repeatedly, there would be no need to mine the metal constantly, on demand. In addition, mining interferes with natural ecosystems, and reducing the need for this industry will help reduce environmental damage.
3. Save the environment against the toxic process.
The process of refining copper releases toxins into the air, which can be harmful to the environment and mankind. However, there is a way to minimize such waste, and that is through recycling, which, on the other hand, is a relatively safe procedure.
4. Help slow down the depletion rate of natural resources.
Another important gain people can benefit from recycling copper is maximizing the use of natural resources so they do not run out quickly. The more you recycle and reuse copper, the longer you preserve its natural sources from being maxed out.
5. Recycling is a great way to make money.
There are a couple of money-making benefits people could gain from recycling copper. For one, it injects new jobs into the economy. The recycling process, from collecting scrap to manufacturing, requires manual labor, creating job posts along the way. For another, it provides opportunities for everyone who would learn to gather and recycle copper through agencies that pay top dollars for them.
Copper exists in various items you would typically find lying around the house. You don’t need to lay a hand on them or crack them to find copper. Instead, you have to call the metal experts of Langley Recycling, and they will figure it out for you. It is such a rewarding feeling to give back to the environment through recycling and gain a lot of things in return.