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Most Interesting Scrap Metal Recycling Facts

Here at Hill Metal Recycling, with our blog we aim to educate our readers on the importance of scrap metal recycling, what’s going on in the scrap metal industry and – last but not least – get our readers excited about scrap metal recycling.

Since the scrap metal industry is such a huge industry in the UK, it should come as no surprise that there are some incredible facts out there that reveal the sheer scale on which recycling is happening at the moment. Acknowledging this, this month, the team at Hill Metal Recycling will be providing you with some of the most interesting scrap metal facts for you to digest.

You can’t pay cash for scrap metal in the UK

In 2012, a law was passed which banned anyone from making cash payments for scrap metal at recycling yards all across the UK and Wales. Above all, the law was passed in order to reduce cable theft across the country.

Over the last decade, thefts have plagued the railway industry, causing nationwide setbacks. Despite the fact that incidents of railway cable theft dropped from 2,600 to around 1,000 due to a police campaign in 2011, many workers in the industry, of which there around 8,000, believe a ban alone will not be enough.

Aluminium packaging is rarely recycled

The aluminium used in packaging and kitchen foil is extremely thin and light, making it difficult to get people to put it in their recycling boxes, despite the fact that it is perfectly recyclable.

In schools, homes, offices, pubs and restaurants throughout the UK, people are throwing light aluminium in the bin without a second thought. So, this is certainly something that needs further awareness in the bid to increase aluminium recycling.

How much is the scrap metal industry worth?

In the UK alone, the scrap metal industry is worth over £5.6 billion annually, and employs over 8,000 people. This goes some way to explaining just how important the scrap metal recycling industry is to the UK and our economy – not to mention the good it is doing for the planet as a whole.

Aluminium

  • Over 700 million tonnes of aluminium has been produced since it was first manufactured. Thanks to recycling, now over 75 % of that is now being reused!
  • Recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy than manufacturing aluminium using just raw materials, demonstrating how energy efficient recycling can be.
  • It takes fewer than 60 days for an aluminium can to be recycled and end up back on the shelf.

Hill Metal Recycling are the metal recycling experts, with services spanning scrap metal, copper, lead, brass, zinc, aluminium, steel and stainless steel recycling along with cable recycling, scrap metal collection and scrap car collection and depollution. We’re open to public, trade and businesses and offer the best scrap prices in Essex. If you’re looking for an easy in and out drop-off recycling service, you can always count on the friendly professionals at HMR. Contact one of our friendly team today for more information.