Recycling is not a modern industry. It has been in practice since humankind first learned to smelt copper (around 9,000 BC, at best estimates) when melting and reforming a broken tool was far simpler than processing the ore for a new one.
Canadian recyclers process between 16 and 18 million tons of scrap metal each year.
An informal survey by CARI of the Canadian recycling industry concluded it directly employs approximately 34,000 Canadian workers, and indirectly creates jobs for approximately 85,000 Canadians.
Recycling is sustainable development; recycling used materials and products reduces greenhouse gases, uses significantly less energy, maximizes the use of finite natural resources, and diverts material from landfills. Recycled metals offer particular environmental benefits compared to mining virgin material, and because metals do not degrade during the recycling process, they are infinitely recyclable.
Scrap recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions, Energy saved using recycled materials is up to: 95% for aluminum 85% for copper 74% for steel
Scrap recycling conserves natural resources, recycling one ton of:
Steel conserves 2,500 lbs. of iron ore, 1,400 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs. of limestone.
Aluminum conserves more than 4 metric tons of bauxite
A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf within just 60 days.
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a 55” HDTV to watch your favorite movie.
One metric ton of electronic scrap from personal computers contains more gold than that recovered from 17 tons of gold ore.
