Copper makes up everything from the coins in your pocket, to the water pipes in your house, to the wiring in your walls. Despite the metal’s ubiquity, however, only about 12% of the globe’s copper resources have been mined. In the United States, almost as much copper is recovered from recycling as is newly mined. Conveniently, in post-production, the recycled material is of equal quality to newly-mined ore. As such a sustainable material, there are many benefits of preserving the metal for future use rather than tossing it in the trash. The friendly experts from Island Recycling in Kapolei, HI, will explain what you should know about this vital resource.

Copper Recycling 101

Protect the Environment

Copper mining and refining emit copper and waste gases into the atmosphere, which negatively impact the environment. While the process is cleaner today than it was decades ago, it still adds to the earth’s carbon footprint. Meanwhile, reprocessing the material after recycling emits nearly no harmful gases.

The earth’s landfills are already heaped high with junk that will never break down. Landfills not only emit harmful toxins into the air, but they also use up valuable land. Due to their rising scarcity, landfills have also become very costly. By recycling as much as possible, you can help reduce landfill waste.

Save Energy

Copper recycling only uses a fraction of the energy that extraction entails. While copper extraction requires 100 gigajoules per metric ton, recycling only uses about 10 gigajoules per metric ton. Also, as a finite resource, it simply makes sense to preserve the earth’s supply for future generations.

Make Money

At recycling companies like Island Recycling, you can make money from your old copper wire and other copper items. Simply bring in your used material, and the experts will assess it and pay you on the spot. Not only does copper recycling help the planet, but it also can cushion your wallet.

When you need to recycle your copper or other scrap metal, head to Island Recycling. The premier recycling service has a notary—as required by the State of Hawaii—at the Kapolei Business Park. To learn more about recycling your metal, paper, plastic, and other materials, call the team today at (808) 682-9200. You may also visit their website.