Wire Hangers: If you do a lot of dry cleaning, those flimsy wire hangers really pile up. Metal Construction Materials: If you’ve just finished a construction project and have scraps left over, from nails and screws to sheets or pipes of metal, these too can be recycled with other scrap metal at a scrap recycling center.Ħ. Chances are that metal pots and pans and baking sheets can’t be put in your curbside bin (although you can certainly check – Seattle, for instance, accepts these items).ĥ. As with appliances, your best bet is to drop off metal cookware at a scrap recycler. But if it’s not, that valuable metal that the cookware is made of can be recycled. Cookware and Bakeware: It’s always the best option to give away or donate used cookware and bakeware if it’s still in usable condition. They might pick your appliance up from you for a small fee or if you bring it in, chances are you could even earn a few bucks for the donation! The Responsible Appliance Disposal program, meanwhile, accepts refrigerators and freezers for recycling so it can safely dispose of the potentially harmful chemicals used in the cooling systems.Ĥ. Find a local scrap metal recycler, many of which will accept old appliances such as ovens or washers and dryers. Appliances: No, you obviously can’t put that oven you’re throwing away in your curbside bin, but it is made of valuable metal that can be collected and reused. Most major city recycling programs, such as New York and Dallas, seem to allow the lids to be placed loose in recycling bins, so check to see if yours does too.ģ.
To avoid this, you could fill a larger container of the same material with these lids, and then crimp the container closed. Some municipal recycling facilities (MRFs), however, have an issue with processing these tiny pieces with their machinery. Metal Jar-Lids: Glass jars and bottles usually are sealed with metal lids, and while it depends on your hauler whether they should be left on or off the jars when you recycle them, they can often be recycled curbside. Of course, besides recycling, there are some other clever ways of reusing those aluminum foil scraps.Ģ. But it’s pretty easy to smooth out a piece of aluminum foil and use a damp dishcloth to wipe off any crumbs or grease before crunching it up and putting it in your bin with the rest of your metal recyclables.
#Recycle metal free
Aluminum Foil: Many recyclers will accept aluminum foil in their curbside bins, with one caveat: Like most recyclables, aluminum foil needs to be free of food residue. Of course, it’s always smart to check with your local recycling hauler to see what their specific rules are regarding the recyclables they accept, but here are some reminders about certain items that you definitely can divert from the landfill, whether it’s as easy as putting them in your curbside bin or it involves a trip to a recycling facility.ġ. But when my mostly-metal microwave broke recently, and I had to replace it, I started wondering if there were a more sustainable way to dispose of some of the metal waste in my house, besides the obvious food and beverage cans. Producing products with extracted metal requires other natural resources, such as fuel, wood, etc., thus putting additional stress on non-renewable sources of energy.If you’re making sure to recycle your aluminum soda and beer cans, pat yourself on the back - you’re helping to ensure that nearly three-quarters of the aluminum produced in the United States is reused again and again.īut what about all the other metal disposables found around your house? Maybe you’re like me and assume certain things just aren’t recyclable. Extraction of metal means depleting natural resources of the planet. It causes soil, air, water, and noise pollution, which will harm the community.Ģ. The major disadvantage is that it harms the environment. When companies deal with metal, they have to pay taxes, which further helps in improving the economy of the local community as well as the government.ġ. Moreover, there will be an increase in facilities such as hospitals and transportation near the mines.3. Extracting, processing, refining, and transporting metal requires several people on the payroll. It helps in creating a lot of jobs for people.
It can be exported and sold to several countries that have high metal consumption, such as China or the United States.Ģ. Raw metal is extremely valuable and helps in bringing in a lot of revenue - for the company as well as the country. Let us look at some advantages of extracting raw material as compared to recycling scrap material.ġ. In order to minimize these damages, you must recycle metals. While these products are useful, the processes required to produce them end up doing a lot of damage to the environment. There, the processed metal will undergo further processes and turned into different products. After the metal is extracted from the soil, it is refined, processed, and transported to several manufacturers.