A wide range of metals including aluminum, copper, steel, and iron can be recycled. Making products from recycled metals uses less energy, reduces pollution, reduces carbon emissions, and uses less water compared with using raw materials, and slows global warming.

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Reduces Pollution

Recycling metal can aid in the prevention of visual pollution. Metal is acquired through the mining of metal ores and most metal ores are found in untouched, desolate landscapes. Recycling your metal can prevent the mining and therefore the destruction of these landscapes as recycling metal doesn’t involve the extraction of non-renewable metal ore. Chemical pollution is also reduced by recycling metals as it cuts down on the amount of transport that is used. If the metal if recycled then it doesn’t have to be imported from other countries via boat or train, therefore cutting back on emissions and the amount of fuel that could have been used.

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Saves Energy

Recycling metal uses less energy than smelting ore to create new metals. For instance, did you know that it takes approximately the same amount of energy to make one can from raw materials as it does to make 20 cans from recycled metal? Metals such as Aluminium and Copper can save you more than 75% in energy bills when using recycled metal instead of natural resources too. Every pound of steel recycled saves an average of 5,450 BTU’s of energy. That is enough to power the computer you are most likely reading this article on, for three hours.

​Slows Global Warming & Saves Wildlife

Although global warming has not been halted, the extent of its effects are being lessened through recycling and so we are preserving the Earth for our children and our children’s children. Did you know that the polar ice is shrinking at a rate of about 3% every decade? This is one of the reasons why recycling is so important, as with the polar ice melting the sea levels will rise which could further increase the temperature of the Earth. Mining doesn’t just destroy a previously flawless landscape; it also destroys the homes of wildlife who may never return.