The use of recycled metals will contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals and will have significant economic and environmental benefits.
According to the US Geological Survey's 2020 recycling statistics, the value of 8 recycled metals reached $26 billion, and their unrecycled counterparts – $28 billion, Elements reports.
It is noted that the demand for these minerals continues to grow. The amount of waste generated during their production and consumption is also increasing.
The article talked about the concept of opportunity cost, which refers to the benefits that are avoided by choosing one option instead of another. In the case of unrefined metals, the opportunity cost is the potential economic and environmental benefits that could be gained by increasing metal recycling rates.
Thus, in the USA in 2020, the indicators of metal recycling reached the following recycling percentages:
- aluminum – 54%;
- chrome – 25%;
- copper – 36%
- iron and steel – 52%;
- lead – 77%;
- magnesium – 55%;
- nickel – 52%;
- tin – 36%.
The authors emphasized that metals can be recycled either from scrap that results from the manufacturing process (known as new scrap) or from scrap goods after consumption (old scrap). Regardless of the source, many, especially chromium, copper and tin, have the potential to gain additional economic benefits by recycling a greater proportion of their scrap.
They noted that compared to mining, processing and transporting new metals, recycling can be a much less energy-intensive alternative. The energy saved could meet the needs of millions of homes in the United States.
The article emphasized that metal processing can also conserve natural resources, create more green jobs, and reduce the country's dependence on mineral imports and supplement raw material reserves.
"The potential for metals recycling is enormous, and taking steps to increase the amount of metals recycled in the U.S. could lead to even greater sustainability and economic benefits," the authors emphasized.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, the use of scrap in electric arc furnaces with a "green" power source can become a path to almost zero emissions.
