steel recycling benefits

By the staff of
Earth911
Updated: 6/5/2008 2:50:01 PM

Steel is a part of many curbside collection programs, primarily to accept steel cans used for anything from coffee to soup to pet food. Here are some of the important reasons to recycle steel:

Steel cans are so abundant in our daily life that you probably go through one every day
Steel is the building material of choice for most construction projects because of its strength and durability
Because steel is a metal, in can be easily separated from other recyclables (e.g. paper, glass) using magnets
Steel recycling saves landfill space as well as provides a scrap resource to the steel industry
Recycling steel prevents the need to mine for additional iron and coal, the primary ingredients to make new steel
Producing new steel takes valuable non-renewable energy, which is conserved when steel is made from recycled steel
Steel is a key component of car parts and household appliances, and recycled steel has the same strength as new steel when used in these devices
Unlike other materials (paper, glass), steel does not have to be separated by color or size before it is recycled; it can all be melted down at once
Steel containers have the versatility to hold a variety of products, from food to paint to shoe polish, and they simply need to be rinsed before they are ready to recycle
Steel containers are usually comprised entirely of steel, meaning that the entire container can be put in with your steel recycling (including caps and lids)