Copper Recycling Fundamentals: What You Should Know

13 January 2023
 Categories: , Blog


When it comes to recycling metals, one of the things that you should consider is the benefit of copper recycling. Many people have heard about recycling copper, but they don't always know where to find it or why they should recycle it. The more you understand about the copper recycling industry and its benefits, the easier it is to decide if it's the right choice for you.

Copper Is Not Renewable

Copper is a finite resource. Once it has all been mined, there will be no more to work with. It is, however, recyclable. You can minimize the natural resources required to mine copper, and avoid the risk of running out of this finite, non-renewable resource by opting for recycling instead. The more copper you choose to recycle, the less needs to be harvested for future needs.

Recycling Saves Money

When you choose to recycle your copper, you save money overall. It is cheaper to recycle copper than it is to produce new raw materials through mining and refinement. As a result, you can lower the overall market price of copper by recycling as much of it as possible. 

Copper Refinement Is Rough On The Environment

If you are looking for a solution that has the least possible effect on the environment, recycling copper is an ideal solution. The mining and refinement process releases more toxins into the environment than recycling, so opting to recycle your copper is a more environmentally-friendly choice.

Copper Is In More Things Than You May Realize

Some people assume that there's no real need to recycle copper because it's not widely used. After all, even pennies are only copper-plated now. However, the fact is that copper is used in all sorts of wiring, circuit boards, and other components. You'll find copper in home appliances, air conditioners, and anything else with wiring inside. Lightning rods often have copper inside as well. If you look at fasteners and fixtures, many washers and bolts are made from copper, especially in plumbing materials.

Copper Should Be Separated

If you decide that it's time to recycle copper, remember that it is measured by weight. That means you need to separate every piece of copper from the inside of any appliances, wire coatings, and other materials.

These are some of the key things to know about copper and copper recycling. When you understand why it's beneficial and where you can find it, it's easier to start your own copper recycling business.


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