3 Key Benefits of Recycling Scrap Metal

Americans have become more recycling savvy in recent years. Green recycling bins are now almost as common to see on a suburban curb as garbage bins. Can and bottle return centers are often occupied, and many retail stores – big and small – now have color-coded recycling receptacles near their entrances. There is one section of recycling, however, that still confuses a lot of people: scrap metal recycling. Where do I go to drop it all off? What exactly are we dropping off anyway?

Recycling of any kind contributes to a greener environment and a healthier planet, but there are a lot of benefits to recycling scrap metal in particular that are often overlooked. Here are 3 key benefits of recycling your scrap metal:

Make Money

Just as with can and bottle returns, there is monetary value in scrap metal. A majority of people who trade scrap metal for cash are individuals who work in the trade industry: factory workers, construction workers, demolitionists, electricians, etc. Their jobs require them to interact with (and, in many cases, remove) all manner of copper, brass, steel, aluminum, and iron. That being said, recycling facilities practically never turn away homeowners who have some scrap of their own. Instead of throwing away that old copper piping or aluminum siding, why not trade it in for some cash?

Positive Economic Impact

Scrap metal recycling impacts our economy is noticeable and positive ways. The scrap metal recycling industry in the United States alone employs close to half a million workers, and with the popularity of scrap recycling on the rise, more jobs are being created every day. It’s a $100 billion-a-year industry, which is a rare example of a business that makes plenty of money while simultaneously working hard to keep our environment protected.

Decreases Intrusive Mining

Recycling scrap metal decreases the amount of intrusive mining that needs to be done. Mining is a business that actively works against our environment, releasing toxic compounds into both our natural resources and our atmosphere, ruining the quality of soil and destroying wildlife habitats. While society does need its precious metals like copper and iron, the way we go about digging them up are hazardous and threatening.

By recycling what we’re already mining for, we’re keeping these metals circulating. This allows us to reduce the amount of digging that needs to be done without reducing production on the items these metals make.

At the end of the day, recycling scrap metal is a no-loss scenario for everyone. Getting paid to rid your home of access scrap while helping boost the economy and protecting our environment? Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

Recycling Scrap Metal in Maryland for 100 Years

Metal scrap recycling pays in many ways that aren’t just cash; but the money sure helps! At Reliable Recycling, we’ve been helping the environment, the economy, and communities in Maryland by recycling scrap metal and clean cardboard for a century. Contact us today to find out how our services can help your wallet – and your environment.