Recycling is a key part of protecting our environment, and most homeowners want to do their part and recycle whenever possible. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of what metal items are recyclable and which should be put in the trash.
The fact is that most metal items are, in fact, recyclable. Metal is one of the most recyclable substances on the planet, and the large majority of metal items in your home can be recycled. However, let’s take a closer look at what metal items you can recycle, just to clear up any misconceptions.
The Benefits of Recycling Metal Items
The recycling of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals has considerable benefits for the environment. Metals that are used in everyday items have to be processed in an energy-intensive process in order to remove corruptions and turn them from everyday rocks known as ores into the materials we know.
This starts with mining them from the earth, grinding them, and smelting them. As an example, it takes processing eight tons of bauxite ore in order to arrive at only one ton of aluminum. This process takes a great deal of energy and releases a lot of carbon and other pollutants into the environment.
Fortunately, nearly all metal can be recycled, and very little needs to be done to recycled metal to turn it into a new and equally valuable product. This way, no new ore needs to be dug up, avoiding the destruction of landscapes and waste of energy.
Also, keeping scrap metal out of landfills avoids the risk of toxins contained within metal products leaching out and contaminating surrounding soil and groundwater. As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to recycling metal objects.
Common Recyclable Metals
Very nearly all metals can be effectively recycled into new high-quality items with no loss of functionality as they rarely lose their beneficial properties during the recycling process. The most commonly recycled metals include steel, brass, aluminum, cast iron, copper, bronze, and tin.
Finding scrap metal that can be recycled around your home is easy. Just take a look around your home, and you can quickly identify many recyclable metal items that you may want to replace, including:
- Cutlery
- Swing Sets
- Electric Appliances
- Lamp Base
- Food Cans
- Pots and Pans
- Metal Chairs
- Old Metal Pipes
- Washers and Dryers
- Hand Tools
- Metal Toys
So when you identify these items around your home, instead of throwing these items away or hauling them to a landfill, make sure that they are recycled.
Final Thoughts
The fact is that most metal items in your home are recyclable. Chances are many recyclable metals in your home are tossed right into the trash without a second thought. Instead of leaving these items to sit in a landfill, make sure to give them a second chance by recycling them. The environment will thank you for it.
Contact Us
If you have metal items sitting around your household waiting to be disposed of, contact ABH Services Inc. Our disposal experts can haul away your recyclable items and ensure that they are recycled properly. Call us at (781) 941-2422 and connect with us on Facebook.