Scrap metal recycling has been an important industry in Australia for more than a hundred years. In 1915, BHP Steel was the first Australian company to recycle its industrial steel scrap and other businesses soon followed suit. It is now a popular method of recycling Australia-wide, especially in big industries.
Making money from scrap metal
Old cars and whitegoods have always been valuable to the metal recycling industry.
Henry Ford recycled his Model T Fords to save on resources in the 1920s, and the car recycling industry remains very important today. Even car batteries can be salvaged for recycling.
Household items such as washing machines, fridges and dishwashers can also be used for scrap. Even smaller items such as copper wiring and aluminium cans can be turned into cash.
Old power stations close
In recent years, Australia has seen the closure of many old coal power plants, as global attitudes continue to shift in favour of renewable energy. The decommissioning of old power stations has created an abundance of scrap for the metal recycling industry. Scrap metal can be found in the roofing, reinforcements and structural elements, such as turbines, of old power stations. Recycling these materials is not only a great source of income, but is also beneficial to the environment.
Scrap metal recycling and sustainability
By recycling scrap metal, we help to eliminate waste and reduce landfill. Scrap metal provides us with the opportunity to recycle and reuse otherwise non-renewable resources, which reduces the strain on the environment.
Put simply, for each tonne of recycled steel 1,100 kg of iron ore, 50 kg of limestone, and 600 kg of coal are saved.
Scrap metal today
Although Australian manufacturing has decreased significantly, there is still a market for scrap metal recycling. Scrap metal can be found in many forms in businesses and households, and can easily be converted into cash. Metal Men Recycling offer cash for scrap metal, and accept all kinds of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. We even supply the bins and offer a 24 hour pickup service.
