Recycling Metals

Section 1 of 6Why recycle metals

Finite resources

• Finite resources Metal ores are limited, and extracting them takes mining, energy and fuel.
• Recycling means the same metal can be used again instead of digging up more ore.

How it works

• How it works Scrap metal is collected, sorted, melted and cast into new objects.
• Sometimes metals must be kept separate, depending on the intended use;
  • scrap steel can be added to a blast furnace together with iron ore.

Energy saving

• Energy saving Melting and re-moulding uses much less energy than extracting a metal from its ore, especially for aluminium, which needs electrolysis.

Section 2 of 6Advantages by category

Benefits of recycling

Environmental

• Environmental Less mining damage to land and habitats.
• Less waste in landfill and lower transport and energy use, so fewer carbon dioxide emissions.

Economic

• Economic Reduces the cost of making new metal, particularly aluminium.
• Creates jobs in collection, sorting and processing.

Resources

• Resources Conserves ore supplies so that they last longer.
• Saves the fossil fuels burned in extraction.

Section 3 of 6Disadvantages

Issue	Explanation
Collection and transport	Lorries burn fuel and produce emissions when scrap is gathered
Sorting	Different metals must be separated, which needs labour and energy
Organisation	Workers, vehicles and sites must be managed and paid for
Quality	Recycled metal may be less pure than new metal, limiting its uses

Section 4 of 6Evaluating a recycling scheme

1

State the benefit with a reason, for example that recycling aluminium saves the large amount of electrical energy used in electrolysis.

2

State a drawback with a reason, such as the energy cost of transporting and sorting scrap.

3

Compare the two, explaining which is greater for the metal in question.

4

Reach a conclusion, usually that recycling is worthwhile overall, particularly for metals that are expensive to extract.

Section 5 of 6Key terms

Term	Meaning
Recycling	Collecting used materials and processing them to make new products.
Finite resource	A resource that will run out because it is used faster than it forms.
Sustainable development	Meeting present needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
Landfill	A site where waste is buried in the ground.
Scrap metal	Waste metal that is suitable for melting down and reuse.

Section 6 of 6Exam technique

1

Saying recycling uses no energy; it uses much less than extraction but still needs energy for collection, sorting and melting.

2

Giving only advantages in an evaluation question; examiners expect a balanced answer.

3

Claiming recycling creates no pollution; transport still produces emissions.

4

Vaguely writing that recycling is 'good for the environment' without explaining how, such as reduced landfill or less mining.