What if everything that was used once could be recycled and used again? Think of how much better of a world we would live in. Less trash in landfills and oceans, new and inventive ways to use products, the list goes on. While unfortunately we’re not there yet, one of the most commonly used and important pieces of infrastructure and everyday life can be. What we’re referring to is scrap metal.
Scrap metal, that is metal that has either been used and served its designed purpose or is leftover from another project or use. There are numerous types of scrap metal which you probably have familiarity with. Examples include aluminum cans, copper from construction, even appliances coated in such materials as nickel.
In this blog post, we’re going to fill you in on a few awesome scrap metal uses that you may have previously may not have been aware of.
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food for being delivered from the factory to the store floor. Our favorite drinks and canned foods tend to make it to our trash cans before they ever hit the recycling bin.
Recycled used cans can be turned back into brand new cans. According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, a recycled aluminum can is able to be repurposed and may end back up on a store shelf within 60 days of it being recycled. In fact, according to the agency, producing new cans from recycled aluminum saves 95% of the energy used to produce cans.
Being able to responsibly dispose of a can and then be able to see that item back in stores within two months time is a great use of scrap, especially since it means that there is less of a demand to source new materials from mines.
Home Renovation
Another set of scrap metal uses come from home renovations. Many different types of metals are used in renovations. Copper for example is a mainstay for heating and cooling elements, pipes, wires and central air conditioning. Brass fittings and stainless steel may be used in sinks and other home amenities. The amount of metal that even a weekend warrior may use in a simple remodeling project is extensive.
Once the work is done and your weekend project is finished, taking your unused copper, brass and other metals to a recycling facility is a great alternative to simply throwing it away.
Recycling of these materials helps decrease the need to mine new metals and thus preserves the environment. Additionally, you can find a sense of pride knowing that the copper piping you recycled from your home renovation job could be being used to help construct another family’s dream home.
New Construction
If you’re a construction/renovation or demolition company your tear downs, rebuilds and new fixtures will result in large volumes of waste and debris. Scrap metal will be one of the largest contributors to this. Scrap should be recycled so that it may be used again in future projects. In fact, it is highly likely that you have already employed previously recycled scrap for one of the aforementioned uses.
In addition to preserving natural resources by precluding the need to mine fresh materials, recycling construction/demolition waste helps to save businesses money in the long run. In the size projects that large companies of this nature take on, the volume of construction and demolition scrap metal can be quite heavy. When scrap is recycled, it keeps the company from needing to make costly trips to the landfill.
Recreation
Bet you didn’t see this one coming. Scrap metal art has become a popular pastime for many people and it is also a great, fun way to make use of your scrap metal. Art is subjective and can be whatever you dream up. Websites such as Etsy or Pinterest can help you to come up with ideas of what you can create! Your scrap metal project can make for an easy holiday or birthday gift.
In addition to art, donating or recycling old fishing materials such as lead weights is another great recreationally based way to use scrap. By recycling old lead fishing sinkers you can keep the environment clean by reducing landfill space usage and preventing weights from ending up in the ocean.
Finally, just like recycling your construction materials, you can find a sense of pride in your usage here. Creating your very own work of art, or donating fishing materials so that someone else may use them is something to feel proud and happy about.
GLE Scrap Metal
We hope this has answered your questions about some of the different scrap metal uses. As you can see there are many different uses, each with numerous benefits. While some of these are easy and can be done on your own, other methods require assistance from a facility that is equipped to handle these materials. The best way to recycle your scrap is to bring it to GLE Scrap Metal.
GLE Scrap Metal is a premier scrap metal recycler, GLE Scrap Metal performs environmentally-friendly processing and recycling of all base and precious metals. We purchase, process, and re-integrate all recyclable base metals.
To find out more contact us or call us at 855-727-2788.
