Steel is a valuable building material, fully recyclable, that cannot be found in nature, but is manmade. The standard composition of steel is 99% iron ore and 1% carbon, but various other combinations exist to create special steel formulas. Producing steel in a steel mill is an expensive and energy consuming process. These are just a few reasons why every person and business should consider recycling items made of steel – from roofs to food cans.
Steel Recycling: Saving Energy, Resources and, Ultimately, the Planet
An important aspect to note is that recycled steel has the same characteristics and properties as virgin steel, freshly prepared in a steel mill. Recycling this material has the following key benefits:
- Reusing Scrap Steel Saves Up to 74% Energy
The energy used to melt and reshape scrap steel represents only 26% of the energy needed to produce steel from raw materials. This is a significant economy, because the natural resources of the planet for creating energy are limited – at least until we take full advantage of renewal energy sources.
- Recycling Saves Natural Resources
Recycling 1 ton of scrap steel can save nearly 1.5 tons of iron ore and half a ton of coke. These are valuable natural resources which, once finished up, cannot be replaced with anything else.
- Recycling Reduces Pollution
Steel does not dissolve into its natural components and cannot be absorbed back into the environment. Steel wastes can lie for centuries at the bottom of the ocean or in landfills, adding to the already high level of pollution. Visit CanAm Steel Building Corporation in Denver CO for long lasting steel buildings.
Originally Posted on: The Importance of Recycling Steel
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