In the US we recycle 150 million metric tons of scrap metal annually. That includes 85 million tons of iron and steel, 5.5 million tons of aluminum, 1.8 million tons of copper, 2 million tons of stainless steel, 1.2 million tons of lead and 420,000 tons of zinc, as reported by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). Many other metals are also recycled, some of these include brass, bronze, magnesium and tin.
Recycling metal provides many benefits
U.S. Exports Recycled Metal
Last year the scrap recycling industry generated $86 billion and sustained 85,000 jobs. The The materials we recycled last year was used in industrial projects around the world. The United States exported approximately $28.6 billion—roughly 44 million metric tons—of scrap materials, which contributed significantly to U.S. trade balances.
Metal Recycling Saves Energy
Recycling scrap metal reduces harmful emissions and uses less energy than producing metal from scratch. Varying amounts of energy is saved depending on the metal that is being recycled.:
-- 92 percent for aluminum
-- 90 percent for copper
-- 56 percent for steel
Recycling Metal Saves Valuable Natural Resources
Metal recycling helps conserve natural resources. Recycling one ton of steel conserves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone. Recycling a ton of aluminum conserves up to 8 tons of bauxite ore and 14 megawatt hours of electricity.