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The Path to Renewal SAVE IT!
Where corporate social responsibility and recycling resurgence go hand in hand, we see the birth of a new global industry.
BY ALISON COLEMAN
world, and now emulated by those in the emerging economies. However, there are limits to the planet’s ability to cope with the impact of consumption on this scale, and for businesses and governments, waste reduction and sus- tainable supply chains are more impor- tant than ever. Underpinning this key environmental issue is the process of recycling, involving the reuse of met- als, plastics, paper, and a range of oth- er manufacturing materials in order to preserve natural resources.
G „„ RECYCLING METALS
Metals such as steel, aluminum, and cop- per are used in many of the products and goods in circulation today, from cars and computers, to construction and packag- ing. The recycling of these metals has
lobal consumption of goods and products is increasing at a rapid pace, as set by countries in the Western
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Metal waiting to be recycled.
Global consumption of goods and products is increasing at a rapid pace.
become a hugely competitive global industry. The cost benefits of recycling are clear. World primary production of aluminum is around 24 million tons on average a year, the largest producer being Australia, followed by countries such as Jamaica, Brazil, Guinea, China, and parts of Europe. However, recycling aluminum requires only 5 percent of the energy and produces only 5 percent of the CO2
emissions compared with the
primary production process, and also reduces the waste going to landfill. Alu-
minum can be recycled indefinitely, as reprocessing does not damage its struc- ture; it is also the most cost-effective material to recycle. Recycling steel is cheaper than making it from iron ore. Steel is the most recycled metal in the world, conferring similar benefits to the environment, and a key commodity in the global metal markets. The American steel recycling industry is “putting the pedal to the metal” in order to satisfy an almost insatiable demand from China’s booming economy, while conserving raw materials and energy. Bill Heenan, president of the U.S.
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Steel Recycling Institute, says: “There has been a steady growth in the steel recycling business. In the USA and Can- ada we are looking at a 7 to 8 percent increase in production over the last de- cade, but with a 45 percent decrease in energy consumption. In fact, this is the only recycling industry where produc- tion is rising while energy consumption levels are falling, and we have achieved that via scrap.” The beauty of scrap
Local Action Moves the World •
www.icleiusa.org
PLANET EARTH \\ RECYCLING
ISTOCKPHOTO (2)
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