Did you know one of the rare earth elements uses is your smartphone? What about inside the touch-screen laptop sitting on your desk?
You probably already know that these devices are made up of common metals like copper and aluminum. But did you know many electronics also contain rare earth metals?
Rare earth metals are important, naturally-occurr...
The quick pace of consumption in the modern world has presented a myriad of environmental issues–air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, and depleting resources. These have a variety of effects on public health and the future habitability of the planet.
The Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, is continually releasi...
If you want to get into the scrap metal and the scrap iron trade, you need to know the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals. You also should be aware that not only can you make money trading metals, you can also help the environment by contributing to ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling, which can help keep contaminated parts out o...
Metal is one of the many materials that we use daily, from driving our car to work or the commuter train downtown; we use metal more than we think. Just look at the phone you’re reading this on or the computer you’re surfing the web with—you use metal products (and recycled metal products, at that) every single day. Here are some metal recycl...
The benefits of recycling scrap metal are numerous, and environmentally and economically necessary. But did you know that steel is the most recycled metal in the world? There is a strong probability that you use recycled steel every day, whether it’s in the car you drive or perhaps it’s the package your food came in. So as you can imagine the b...
The economic impact of recycling is expanding, meaning that the use of recycled metals is growing and growing. What are recycled metals used for? Here is a breakdown of the importance of recycling scrap metal and the many uses of reused metals.
It’s well known that recycling has a dramatic impact on the environment. Recycling reduces the amo...
For the most part, we’re all trying to do our best to leave the Earth better for future generations. But what does that entail? Take scrap metal recycling. Some consumers may be overwhelmed by where to start. For example, what are the best scrap metal items to recycle? Where can I recycle scrap metal? So on and so forth.
In fact, consumers ma...
Scrap metal recycling can be a bit confusing for people just starting out. There are all sorts of different scrap metal classifications, grades, and types of metals. While it all seems irrelevant, it’s important to know what type of metal you’re dealing with.
Whether you’re building a structure from recycled scrap metal or just trying to r...
As awareness continues to grow about the benefits of recycling and the consequences of our growing waste, companies are starting to do their part by implementing a company recycling program.
Companies all over the world are going green, not just by promoting a company recycling program, but even going as far as making their stores and products ...
It’s a well-known fact that recycling is good for the environment–you place your bin at the end of your driveway and you’ve done your part. While there has been a lot of talk about the effects of recycling, there is not enough discussion about the effects of not recycling.
What would happen if everyone decided to stop recycling? What are t...
What’s ferrous metal recycling? Let’s break that down for you.
There are two different types of metals that can be recycled: ferrous and non-ferrous. Ferrous metals are the most recycled metals. You could possibly be throwing away ferrous metal that could be recycled and not even know it!
Simply put, ferrous metals are metals that contai...
Most surveys indicate that the public wholeheartedly believes in the concept of recycling used items and the environmental benefits that offers.
The bigger issue may that a public used to recycling newspapers, cans and plastic bottles isn’t fully aware of the many other items that can easily be recycled -- including scrap metal. And they also ...
In the U.S., there are currently no federal laws governing recycling and no national law that mandates it. So the issue is mainly left to the states to decide. While many U.S. cities have active recycling programs, a lot of them are not mandatory and it’s optional for residents and businesses. And today, city leaders are frustrated with the prob...
The scrap metal recycling industry is a fast-growing business that accounts for up to $90 billion in economic activity across the U.S., employs thousands of people, and contributes millions in tax revenue.
Making recycled metals available to our manufacturers helps us economically and proves something that the industry has known for a while: sc...
Recycling saves money. It's that simple.
It’s in the best interest of all businesses to establish recycling programs. Recycling sets a good example for employees and surrounding businesses and ultimately reduces an organization’s footprint. Also, the environmental benefits of recycling are well known. The thriving scrap metal recycling indus...
One of the top benefits of recycling scrap metal is to keep these metals, and the toxic chemicals within them, out of landfills. So how is scrap metal reused to make new products?
But beyond the environmental benefits, it’s important to encourage more individuals, families, and businesses to recycle any unwanted items they have that are made...
There are numerous ways to earn extra money. Some people take on part-time jobs while others look for seasonal work during summers and holidays. One way is to find scrap metal and sell it. But where to find scrap metal can be a little tricky.
Here are some scrap metal finding tips.
As we said, an often overlooked option that can generate ha...
Recycling is not a controversial topic. Every day, millions of Americans place household items in their recycling bin for collection, while businesses all across the country do the same. Here are tips on how to recycle scrap metal.
It’s easy, even popular, to recognize the benefits of recycling, and how using older items to help make new one...
Going Green sounds like a slogan, but it’s really an action plan that allows both consumers and businesses to successfully contribute to a healthier environment – and save money. How does scrap metal recycling save money?
And while there are a variety of ways of going green, from conserving energy to reducing consumption of fossil fuels to...
It’s been said that for more than a century in Michigan, the auto industry has been the dominant economic engine fueling so much of the state. And for decades now, the same has also been true about the Michigan scrap metal recycling industry.
At the turn of the 20th century, Michigan's economy experienced the early signs of the major transform...
Aluminum recycling is important for both our environment – and our recycling efforts.
Aluminum is one of the most durable forms of metal available to businesses and manufacturers. It’s also one of the most recycled materials today. The vast majority of aluminum produced in the U.S. today, nearly 75 percent, gets recycled for reuse, and the ...
Industrial scrap metal recycling can positively affect businesses. Here’s how.
All metals have value, and that’s particularly true for scrap metal – which is far too often treated as “junk” to be disposed of. Far too many consumers and businesses don’t realize that metals can be easily recycled without losing value.
They might be...
Globals sustainability with scrap metal starts simply. It starts with your car.
What does your car have to do with energy and sustainability? A lot actually.
The car you drive today will inevitably end up in either one of two places, a landfill or recycling facility.
And you want it to end up in the latter, not the former. You want it to...
There’s been a debate raging for a number of years: is there a benefit to recycling? Some consumers are firmly committed to the concept and see obvious benefits, while others have excuses for why they don’t bother. Here are the myths about recycling.
There’s been a major push in recent years to increase recycling rates, particularly for i...
Here’s why scrap metal is valuable and why you should pay attention. You just might make some cash in the process.
January is typically a time of year when, in addition to new year’s resolutions, people often decide to start making some changes to their homes – from do-it-yourself improvement projects to more serious home remodeling work ...
As a $116 billion industry in the U.S., scrap recycling is responsible for disposing of roughly 260 million tons of waste each year. With that kind of responsibility, more and more recycling companies are looking to advanced technology to improve operations, and there have been some notable innovations in recent years.
And one of them is truly o...
One of the strongest selling points for increasing recycling rates for scrap metals has been the proven environmental benefits.
Scrap metal recycling reduces air pollution. It’s that simple. Or is it?
Let’s get into the numbers.
It’s easy to make the case that scrap doesn’t belong in our landfills, where it can contaminate nearb...
The economic benefits of recycling scrap metal may not always be visible, but when you look below the surface, the scrap metal recycling industry has its impact on the economy.
Last month, major retailer Walmart announced that it was making a firm commitment to carrying out a new vision: a stronger commitment to recycling used materials.
Th...
What are the economic benefits of recycling metals? Here are the top reasons why scrap metal recycling is a growing industry and how that can affect you.
Across the United States, the concept of “going green” has progressed far beyond simply being a catchy slogan. Businesses are quickly taking steps to become more environmentally-friendly i...
Here’s the scrap metal recycling outlook for 2019 and what to look forward to in a now booming industry. As 2018 comes to a close, it’s clear this has been an unprecedented year for the scrap metal industry.
Last year, when China announced that it would stop accepting import waste material, including many scrap metals, it looked like a huge...
Is there such a thing as mining for treasures … in trash? As it turns out, landfills – particularly older ones – have become a great source for valuable materials, including metals. Finding treasures in trash could, in fact, be a valuable hobby.
That concept was brought home recently in a landfill in Escambia County, Florida. It was closed...
Scrap recycling equipment is getting smarter.
The concept behind the recycling of scrap metal is straightforward: there are still a lot of valuable parts in scrap that, when effectively recycled, can be resold to buyers for use in making new products.
So what seems like scrap junk that belongs in a landfill actually still has a lot of usefuln...
As the U.S. and other nations continue to change the terms of free trade agreements that have been in existence for two decades, industries being impacted by newly imposed tariffs are still figuring out the long-term impact.
And now they’re sorting out the implications of the decision by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to replace the 25-...
Do you have any leftover sheet metal from construction projects? Consider the benefits of sheet metal recycling.
First, some quick facts about sheet metal workers, the ones who fabricate or install products made from thin metal sheets, such as ducts used in heating and air conditioning systems.
Their median pay in 2017 was nearly $48,000 a ye...
China is creating new headaches and uncertainty for the U.S. recycling market, following their decision to stop accepting the import of scrap metal. Now with a trade war escalating between the U.S. and China, the recycling industry could be facing even more challenges.
The solution may not come from a sudden change of heart within the Chinese go...
A growing number of people think we have a serious plastics problem.
And a lot of the frustration has been directed against something in particular: plastic straws.
In part, this issue has been about something else: recycling rates for plastics that need improving.
We all know that unlike some other products, virtually all plastics end up...
If there’s one thing Michigan has long been known for, it’s being the historic heart of the American automotive industry. There have been so many auto manufacturing plants in the state that Detroit took on the nickname "Motor City," and it was Michigan’s own Henry Ford who pioneered the use of the assembly line in manufacturing automobiles he...
A strong economy is helping particular sectors grow at an accelerated rate, and a great example is the construction industry. A low unemployment rate has produced significant public and private sector investments in major construction and infrastructure projects.
And as more commercial and residential properties get built, more road expansion pr...
With a booming economy based in part on tourism, Central Florida has exactly what visitors are looking for, including major theme park, popular golf resorts, and a diverse number of hotels and restaurants offering plenty of options for your extended stays here.
But did you know that despite that, the Orlando area is still in the midst of a stunn...
One of the biggest challenges for the nation’s red-hot housing market has been a lack of inventory. There simply are not enough homes being put on the market to meet the high demand among prospective buyers.
Logic says that should provide a major incentive to home builders to ramp up construction and deliver more brand-new homes, but they face...
During World War II, the U.S. government launched a nationwide campaign encouraging Americans to start collecting anything they had made out of metal, so it could be recycled.
The reason: as part of the war effort, factories had started to ramp up production of the tanks, ships and other weapons used to fight overseas. Metals were in short suppl...
Let’s face it: when you buy a home, it’s not truly yours just because you signed the deed. It’s when you’ve turned that house into something that truly reflects who you are that you can say it’s yours.
Virtually everyone loves the opportunity to do remodeling work before they move in, or to launch into some repair projects the previous...
If you’re sitting down at your dining table and just reached over to turn on a lamp, it’s possible both products were made from a key ingredient: scrap metal.
Scrap is actually a vital component in the manufacturing of a host of different products, from new buildings to home furniture to cars. It’s a great economic benefit when we use recy...
U.S. Steel, the integrated steel producer headquartered in Pittsburgh and the world’s 24th largest steel producer, just made a major announcement: they’re hiring again.
That may not sound significant in an economy that’s booming and with a national unemployment rate of just 3.8 percent, a historic low. But anyone who has followed the steel...
TL;DR
Recycling can reduce the negative impact on our environment, and today, the recycling industry is not only expanding but evolving.
Recycling companies are a $116 billion industry in the U.S. These companies are responsible for disposing of roughly 260 million tons of waste each year.
Recycling companies are constantly investing in ...
As the old cliché goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And that line applies to more than just antique sales or eBay auctions.
What a lot of people don’t know about is the value of scrap metal – something that’s too often treated as trash to be disposed of, even though its value to recyclers is high. And there’s a strong...
The marine scientist and oceanographer David Mearns has gotten a lot of attention in recent years for his work as a successful hunter of deep-ocean shipwrecks. He even published a book this year, “The Shipwreck Hunter: A Lifetime of Extraordinary Discoveries on the Ocean Floor,” that describes his discovery of more than 20 major shipwrecks, inc...
Increasingly, we’ve become a nation that loves our homes, our apartments – and our self-storage facilities.
Today, more and more Americans are renting space in storage facilities, which have become a booming industry, particularly in large metro areas. There’s an estimated 2.6 billion square feet of self-storage across this nation, accordi...
It’s become known as a ritual in our nation’s capital. Between February and May each year, lobbying groups that represent industries related to our nation’s infrastructure descend on Capitol Hill.
The American Public Power Association, the National League of Cities, the American Water Works Association and the American Society of Civil Eng...
There was a significant piece of good news that came out recently about the environment, a positive trend that bodes well for the protection of our soil, water, and air.
The report, though, was not specifically about environmental protections or new regulations intended to create a stronger and healthy climate for all of us. Instead, it was abou...