As the demand for metal in manufacturing various products, devices, and equipment rises yearly, industries increasingly source and process every available metal product. With a renewed focus on sustainable practices, the debate over the most environmentally friendly method of obtaining metal products favors recycling over extraction.
Extracting Metal
For years, raw metals have been sourced from the earth through extraction processes. These materials are mined from the soil, refined, processed, and transported to manufacturers for further fabrication, which varies according to the final product. While metal extraction benefits the economy by enabling exports and creating jobs, it is environmentally damaging. The extraction processes often lead to significant pollution and consume large amounts of non-renewable energy, releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere and nearby communities. As a result, the carbon footprint of metal extraction is considerably high. Continued extraction could deplete natural metal supplies within a few years.
Recycling Metal
In contrast, recycling offers a more sustainable approach. Many products today are made from metals, and when these products reach the end of their useful life, they often end up in landfills, contributing to pollution. Sending scrap metal to recycling centers is a more sustainable option. Metal recycling not only boosts the economy by creating new products from recycled materials, but it also allows individuals to earn money by selling scrap metal to centers like IMMIX Integrated Metal Management Melbourne. Environmentally, recycling significantly reduces landfill waste and energy consumption since it bypasses many energy-intensive processes. It also conserves raw metal resources for future use.
Although recycling involves factories, trucks, and sorting facilities that can increase the carbon footprint, its overall impact is much less harmful than metal extraction.
While metal extraction supports economic growth, recycling metal helps meet manufacturing demands without long-term environmental harm.
To learn more about the processes involved in recycling metal and how IMMIX Integrated Metal Management Melbourne can assist you, visit our website at www.immix.com.au.
Thanks to all the residents of Killara in Wodonga who responded to our survey or contacted us directly in August and September.
Today we have delivered this update to all properties with a letterbox in Killara.
It provides answers to the questions asked in the August survey and an update on our plans to reduce noise and screen the Wodonga site. We also speak to the acoustic engineer who designed our acoustic barrier about what we can expect it to achieve.
Email: dean.furborough@immix.com.au
Phone: 1300 046 649