Is Recycling Copper Good for the Environment

1. Is Recycling Copper Good for the Environment?

2. Introduction Copper has been recycled for thousands of years. In the United States, the same amount of copper is recycled as what comes from newly mined ore. Recycling copper reduces risks to the environment, including carbon dioxide emissions from extraction and damaging habitats surrounding mines. In this presentation, you will get information on how good copper recycling is for the environment and also learn the advantages of copper recycling.

3. Mining Waste and Energy Mining copper produces dust and waste gases like sulfur dioxide, which contributes to air pollution. While miners minimize this pollution by trapping sulfur dioxide gas and using it to make sulfuric acid, the process of recycling copper rarely contributes to gas emissions that can pollute the environment. Additionally, extracting copper from ore requires more energy than recycling copper, which uses only about 10 percent of the energy necessary for extraction. Gas Emissions Because recycling copper requires less energy than extracting copper from ore, there are fewer gas emissions into the atmosphere, and recycling allows for the conservation of valuable resources like coal and oil. Copper alloys might release fumes when melted. For example, Beryllium is sometimes used in alloys with copper; while beryllium is not dangerous in its solid state, its gaseous state is a known health hazard. Fume extraction equipment can reduce the number of hazardous gases entering the atmosphere.

4. Conservation of Copper Only about 12 percent of known copper sources have been mined, but since copper is a nonrenewable resource, recycling contributes to conservation. Copper is 100 percent recyclable, and recycled copper retains up to 90 percent of the original copper’s cost. Mining new copper can damage the land surrounding the mine. Because recycling copper reduces the need to mine for new copper, it lessens the impact on the environment. Landfill Concerns Without recycling, valuable copper scrap would end up in landfills, which are becoming too full to accommodate more waste. The demand for space in landfills is high, making the cost of dumping waste very expensive. Additionally, buried metals like copper could contribute to environmental harm, including contamination of groundwater resources. Recycling copper keeps it from ending up in landfills and causing environmental damage.

5. The Advantages of Recycling Copper Copper is a 100 percent recyclable material. According to the Copper Development Association, copper's recycling rate is higher than that of any other engineering metal. Every year in the United States, nearly as much copper is recycled as is mined. Excluding wire production, almost 75 percent of U.S. copper used comes from recycled copper scrap. There are so many advantages to recycling copper that the value of scrap is approximately 85 to 95 percent of the price of newly mined ore. The Decline of Mining The more copper recycled, the smaller the need for copper mining. Copper mining involves the usage of time, energy, and fossil fuels. According to the Copper Development Association, the United States has no need to import copper. This is mostly due to copper recycling, which provides 65 percent of the copper for domestic usage.

6. Copper Refining The refining process for copper releases toxic gases and dust into the air. Recycling reduces the emissions related to the mining and smelting. The Bureau of International Recycling reports that recycling copper saves 85 percent of the energy needed to produce new copper. The amount of solid waste left over from the smelting process is also eliminated, reducing a need for disposal. Landfills at Capacity Recycling copper eliminates the product from taking up space in landfills, according to "Waste and Recycling". Copper is found in many different products; Household electrical items, computers, cars, and electrical wire can all contain copper. Many buildings include copper in their construction, with the average home containing 400 pounds of copper. Even small pieces of copper can be recycled and reused.

7. Conclusion Overall, copper recycling has numerous positive environmental impacts. Recycling copper reduces the need for mining, which can have negative impacts on the environment such as land degradation, water pollution, and habitat destruction. Recycling also conserves energy, as it takes less energy to process recycled copper than to extract and process new copper from ore. Therefore, copper recycling is an important practice that helps to reduce the environmental impacts of copper production and use. Turn your old copper into cash with Big Country Recycling! It is one of the best recycling companies in San Angelo, TX. Their efficient and environmentally-conscious recycling services make it easy to turn your scrap copper into a profit. For more information, google: Copper Recycling Services or call 325-949-5865.

8. CONTACT US Big Country Recycling Call: 325-949-5865 5117 Armstrong Street, San Angelo, TX 76903 bigcountryrecycling@gmail.com https://metalrecyclingsanangelotx.com/ https://twitter.com/BigCountyRecyc https://www.facebook.com/bigcountryrecycling2014