Why Large Companies Should Scrap Their Metal Instead of Throwing It

Throwing away scrap metal is like throwing away physical money. Not only that, it also has such a detrimental effect on the environment, greatly reducing the number of resources we have available to use for the future. 

In the UK, 10 million tonnes of scrap metal is recycled each year, with the industry worth approximately 5 billion pounds. 

But why would recycling scrap metal make companies money? How does it benefit the environment? 

Here at Mellor Metals, we will be breaking down the importance of recycling, and why companies should not throw away their scrap metal…

Money made from scrap metal

One of the most obvious compelling factors to recycle ferrous and non-ferrous metals is the money that can be made from recycling them. With large companies, they could be sitting on a tremendous amount of recyclable materials. 

A non-ferrous metal like copper, for example, can be very lucrative for companies due to its high demand and is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, making this one of the most valuable metals you can recycle.

Whether it’s steel, lead, cast iron or more, companies can always make a pretty penny from recycling them. At the time of writing this, if you were to scrap 1 tonne of aluminium, this could be worth up to £400!* 

*Scrap metal prices change on a daily basis. The above price is based on estimates per tonne. Visit our Mellor Metals scrap metal recycling list or download our app to find out what we accept, along with current recycling rates. 

The best way to dispose of unwanted materials

Who would want to see an unsightly collection of scrap metal outside of a business or home? Luckily, for large quantities, scrap metal businesses like ourselves will take this away, all included within the final invoice. This is always within their best interest as this saves them a substantial amount of time and labour.

Not only that, it provides peace of mind for both parties, knowing that the unwanted materials will not end up in landfill and will be reused instead. 

Recycling metals helps the economy

Many scrap metal businesses, including ourselves, will purchase and supply scrap metal to domestic and export markets. Companies that arrange for their scrap metal to be reused will not only make them money, it will also contribute to the wealth of the country, boosting the economy even further.

This demand for scrap metal will always be around, therefore it is vital that large companies get on board and ensure they are not losing out on the potential to make money and help the economy. 

Recycling scrap metals and its environmental impact

Last but not least, possibly the most compelling factor to recycle scrap metal is the positive environmental impact it has. 

Since 900bc, it is known that man has been melting and re-melting metal, so this method of recycling has not become a recent occurrence. 

Based on EU data, reusing recycled materials such as metals reduces CO2 emissions around 200 million tonnes a year… This is an astonishing amount saved from recycling materials, providing extra environmental protection which is critical in reducing our impact on global warming. 

Reusing scrap metal prevents unnecessary mining for precious, natural resources to create new metal compounds. Almost all metals have the capacity to be recycled into new, quality metals, which greatly reduces our carbon footprint. 

If a large company was to recycle a tonne of steel, it would save 1.5 tonnes of iron ore, 75% of CO2 emissions and 70% of the energy needed to extract iron ore from the ground. These figures greatly represent why all companies should be recycling their scrap metal.

To summarise, it is especially important for large companies to do their bit and reduce their carbon footprint by recycling their scrap metal, or any recyclable materials. 

Consider Mellor Metals

If you own a business that has scrap metal laying around, then hopefully this blog has helped convince you not to throw it away. Please get in contact with us here at Mellor Metals and we will be happy to help you with any enquiries you have. We are a family-run, independent metal recycling company based in Attenborough, Norfolk.

Get in touch with our knowledgeable team today.