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Recycling facts and figures
Recycling is the processing of used materials which are no longer suitable for their original purpose. The end products of the recycling process are remanufactured into new products, reducing waste and keeping valuable materials out of landfill. Metals and many other materials can be recycled and used again indefinitely, meaning we protect and preserve some of nature's finite resources.
Using recycled products instead of virgin materials during manufacturing, dramatically reduces pollution and carbon emissions, reduces energy and water consumption, and frees up much needed space for necessary landfill.
Here are examples of some of the savings made on carbon emissions by using recycled materials:
- By using a tonne of recycled steel rather than primary iron ore, carbon emissions are reduced by 2.1 tonnes
- When one tonne of aluminium is recycled, carbon emissions are reduced by a staggering 7.9 tonnes
- For every tonne of computers recycled, carbon emissions are reduced by approximately 4.0 tonnes
The BMRA (British Metals Recycling Association) advises that energy savings from re-using major non ferrous commodities are:
- Aluminium 95%
- Copper 85%
- Lead 65%
- Zinc 60%
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has produced a comprehensive report evaluating e-waste recycling in developing countries. It reviews and assesses key issues such as:
- The fundamentals of e-waste recycling
- Recycling technology
- E-waste volumes in developing countries
- Innovation hubs and knowledge centres of excellence in emerging economies
You can view or download the report below or visit the UNEP website for more information. A related Sims Recycling Solutions news release provides an insight into our perspective on the report - details below.
Sims Recycling Solutions has electronics recycling services in emerging economies including India.
During 2008, The Sims Metal Management group of companies, including Sims Recycling Solutions recycled:
- Enough metal to cover a soccer field to the vertical height of one mile. This means more than 12 million cubic metres of much needed space was freed up for landfill.
- More than 1.5 million cars, which, if laid out end-to-end, would stretch from Rome to Bangkok
- Sufficient appliances and refrigerators to stretch from Sydney to Amsterdam and across to New York
For further e-recycling facts and figures, contact your regional press office or one of the recycling organisations listed in the News and Resource section