Whether you’re an individual with scrap metal or steel on your property, or a business owner who’s trying to find an effective solution for steel scrap management, it’s important that you know about the environmental benefits of recycling steel. While most people know that steel recycling supports the local economy and helps to support local jobs—and that they can get paid for their scrap metal—few understand that recycling steel is also a more sustainable option. At Scrap Metal Services, LLC, we are proud to be a global leader in scrap metal recycling, and we are committed to maximizing our sustainability impacts and minimizing our footprint. Here’s what you should know about the environmental benefits of steel recycling—if you have any questions or want to recycle your (steel) metal products, call us directly today.

Steel Can Be Recycled Again, and Again, and Again…

One of the things that makes steel such a sustainable metal is that it can be recycled not just once, not just twice, but multiple times throughout its lifetime. Indeed, steel can be recycled over and over again without losing the strength and durability for which it’s known. This means that it can be used in a variety of industries for numerous applications without its quality being compromised. When steel is recycled like this, the need for new metal mining is significantly reduced.

Recycling Steel Reduces New Mining Projects

When steel is recycled and becomes part of the circular economy, there is less of a demand for new steel products; on the other hand, if steel is thrown away and sent to the landfill, there is less steel in the economy, and therefore more steel is required to strike a balance. When new steel is required and it cannot be obtained through steel recycling, it must be mined. Mining can be incredibly destructive to the natural environment and natural habitats, result in the extraction and use of natural resources, lead to the release of toxins and pollutants, use large amounts of energy and water, and can be associated with labor violations in some cases. 

Recycling Steel Conserves Natural Resources, Water, and Energy

It would be untrue to say that steel recycling has zero carbon footprint or that it doesn’t use any energy or fossil fuels; it does. However, the amount of energy, fossil fuels, water, and natural resources that are used to recycle steel products is less than the amount of those same resources used to mine new steel. Keeping steel in circulation, then, is a more sustainable option that supports planetary health.

Learn More About Steel Recycling Today

To learn more about scrap metal recycling and steel recycling, please call Scrap Metal Services, LLC. We are a leader in steel recycling and look forward to working with you!