Can Using Scrap Metal Reduce The Production Of Greenhouse Gases? Know More

Deforestation, overuse of fossil fuels & natural resources and the ever-increasing size of the earth's population has put a lot of pressure on our planet's environment. Additionally, it has led to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, leading to the issue of global warming that we experience today. 

Since the damage is already done, what can be done to at least lessen the effect? Well, just like the world is moving towards renewable energy, similarly, scrap metal should be utilised to reduce the production of greenhouse gases. But, can the use of scrap metals for recycling prove to be beneficial for the earth's environment in reducing greenhouse gas production? Let's find out. 

What Do You Mean By Greenhouse Gases?

According to a professional service provider for metal recycling in Sydney, greenhouse gases are defined by those types of gases that absorb the heat from the earth’s atmosphere and thereby warms up the earth’s surface. Such a process is known as the greenhouse effect. 

Examples of greenhouse gases include methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Even though all of these gases can occur naturally, most of the time, these greenhouse gases are formed due to human activities. Over time, the number of greenhouse emissions have been increasing and thereby have directly led to the increase in the earth's overall temperature. 

The Earth Is Running Out Of Metal Ores

It has been reported by multiple researchers that some of the earth's resources such as zinc, tin and copper, will be completely depleted in the next 20 to 75 years. Therefore, as responsible citizens of planet earth, we have to reduce the overall usage of earth's resources including fossil fuels. 

That’s why recycling scrap metals has become a major talking point in the current day scenario because it can help in conserving the current amount of natural resources we still have in the earth’s crust. 

How Can The Use Of Scrap Metals Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

It should be known that the process of processing and extracting raw materials from metal ores requires a lot of energy. Moreover, the manufacturing process also involves the use of a lot of chemicals, which can harm the environment when released as factory effluents. 

On the other hand, the process of recycling scrap metal reduces the need for energy usage and also mining for new metal ores, thereby making it a more eco-friendly option. And since the energy usage will be less, fewer fossil fuels will be burnt in the process, leading to the release of fewer greenhouse gases in the earth's environment. Besides, the waste production will also be less. 

Scrap Metal Recycling Reduces Landfill Wastes

When objects that are made of metal or have metal content in them, thrown away without recycling them, they tend to end up as waste in large landfills. These landfills take up valuable space on the surface of our planet and thus continue to pollute the environment over time. The metals will start degrading due to the natural weathering elements (sunlight, rain, snow) and thus contaminate the flora & fauna of the earth. 

So, next time, before you decide to throw away scrap metal, remember to take the same to your nearby scrapyard.