Recycling as we know it today as part of the environmental movement first came to prominence in the 1970s, but it’s history stretches back thousands of years prior to that. For most of human history, production of goods of any sort was both expensive and time consuming, so most households practiced some form of recycling. Mass production and consumption in the wake of the industrial revolution changed all of that and recycling on a local government scale was implemented as a response. This week, we run through ten interesting facts you may not know about the history of recycling.

1. The first ever recorded instance of waste paper recycling is from 1031 in Japan. Paper is a precious commodity so it is re-pulped to make new paper and then resold.
2. Romans recycled bronze coins into statues to increase the value of the metal and during wartime, any sort of available metal was being melted down for reuse as weapons.
3. The world’s first curb side recycling program was pioneered in France in 1884.
4. The first Australian recycled paper mill was built in Melbourne 1815 and used recycled cotton and linen rags (a process patented in 1690) to make paper.
5. BHP Steel pioneered industrial steel recycling in 1915.
6. Henry Form pioneered car body recycling in the 1920s by recycling his Model T Fords to save resources and money.
7. The Great Depression forced people to come up with ever more ingenious ways to make ends meet with what limited resources they had. The concept of ‘dual use’ became a major selling point for manufacturers, and families did things like using flour sacks to patch clothes, and reusing biscuit boxes as lunch boxes.
8. During World War I and II, the US Government launches many national recycling initiatives in a bid to aid the war effort. One wartime recycling suggestion from the government was for people to return used animal fat to their butchers, as it could be used in munitions manufacturing.
9. In 1970 an American recycled container company ran an art contest to raise environmental awareness. Gary Anderson’s entry was The Mobius Loop which has since become the international symbol for ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’.
10. Today, a growing focus on the impact of the consumerism on the environment means that Australians are more conscious than ever about the importance of recycling. A government funded study in 2011 found that 51% of all waste in Australia is now recycled which translates to about 1090kg of materials per capita.

Metal Men Recycling is an established metal recycling business in Pakenham. We take all kinds and quantities of metal scrap and promise a competitive price.

When we think of world history and human evolution, we often think in terms of events, civilisations, and important figures. However, inventions have played an equally significant role in furthering humanity and many of the most significant objects happen to be made of metal. This week, we thought we’d look at five surprising metal objects that have changed the course of human history, and which you can hold in the palm of your hand.

Nail

Thought to have been invented around 3400 BC, nails made building lightweight wooden structures fast and simple. Prior to the nail, buildings were constructed from with either stones or with wood planks cut to geometrically interlock. The invention of the nail made it much faster and cheaper to build structures, enabling people to live a higher quality of life.

Transistors

Used as an amplifier for an electric current or switch a small current to a larger one, transistors were an invaluable invention that played a crucial role in the development of numerous important electronic devices including radios, televisions, computers and cell phones.  

Cast iron pot

The complex process involved in casting cooking pots was first patented by Abraham Darby I in 1707 and this technology was then used to create a wide range of important mining and transportation equipment including iron wheels, ploughs, machinery and steam engine cylinders.

Bullet

First thought to have been invented in China in the 13^th century, bullets (in guns) revolutionised the way that wars were fought by dramatically increasing both the range and speed at which weapons could be discharged, as well as the amount of damage caused. In the 20^th century, guns and artillery have become so advanced as to virtually eliminate hand to hand combat, previously a stalwart of warfare.

Coins

Thought to have been invented in Iron Age Anatolia, the coin marked a departure from the ancient bartering economy and the beginning of the currency system that forms the basis of the global financial sector today.

Whilst a single bullet or transistor is unlikely to have much scrap value, Metal Men accept all types and quantities of scrap metal and pay cash for the metal we receive. Get in touch with us today by calling 03 5941 6677.

If you’re a regular follower of our blogs, you’re undoubtedly aware that it’s possible to turn a tidy profit by sourcing and selling various kinds of scrap metal. What you might not know however is that there is a plethora of found objects which can be flipped for profit. This week, we thought we’d run through four other types of found objects which can be traded in for cash.

Plant clippings

With the trend for indoor plants reaching fever pitch, there is a huge market for many low maintenance varieties which can easily propagated for clippings. Take tip cuttings from thriving plants in your garden or around your neighbourhood, and root them in either peat moss or a glass of water until roots form, then sell the seedlings on via one of the many local plant selling groups on social media, or at a community garden swap meet. Some popular varieties to look out for include any kind of cactus or succulent, African violets, rex begonia, snake plant, jade plant and fuchsia.

Picture frames

Whilst art styles come and go, large, unusual or ornate picture frames are always in high demand. Next time you’re in an op shop flipping through a stack of pictures, focus on the frames instead of what they contain. Provided they are in good condition, large ornate or antique frames can fetch upwards of a hundred dollars.

Old and broken electronics

With the rate technology advances nowadays, almost everyone has an old phone, iPod, computer, stereo, or at least a handful of CDs lying around at home somewhere. Whilst out of date or broken electronics might seem useless to you, they do have a resale value as many contain reusable materials or can be reconditioned. Online electronic resellers like Decluttr, CashForCDs, and Dixons Recycled pay well for old and broken technology and are well worth investigating.

Appliance parts

If you have a small appliance which seems too old or broken to sell, there’s still a good chance that someone out there wants it’s parts. Online selling platforms like eBay are ideal for selling parts from brand name appliances as it has a worldwide audience and parts like attachments and accessories are small enough to be sent through the post.

Metal Men Recycling offers cash for scrap metal and promises a competitive price for almost every type of metal scrap. Get in touch with us today to unload your scrap metal haul by calling 03 5941 6677.