• Recycling is a means of reusing materials that have been previously used and making new products from this material. Many people choose to recycle glass, paper and plastic. Another material that ought to be recycled that many overlook is metal. Metals such as copper and steel are good recyclable materials for a number of reasons.
  
  

Conserving Resources

• Because the amount of metals found in the earth is finite, recycling the metals that already have been mined and refined is beneficial. Metals that are refined are just as strong as they were the first time they were extracted from the earth and refined. It is also easier to produce products using recycled metal, making metal recycling cost-effective. On top of this, recycling metals uses fewer non-renewal resources to be produced than virgin metals use.
  
  

Less Landfill Waste

• Landfills are giant holes in the ground into which trash is dumped. Oftentimes, this trash is not biodegradable, or it can take thousands and thousands of years for the trash to break down. When metals go into landfills, they take up extra space that can be used for other trash. Metals are not easily broken down and therefore cause problems in landfills. By recycling the metal, you will be cutting down on the landfill waste.
  
  

Protects the Environment

• For several reasons, recycling metals helps the environment. Recycling results in less mining for metals within the earth. Metals that are being recycled emit less energy than forging virgin metals. Virgin metals, when produced, send pollutants into the air, such as dust and certain gases. Recycled metals give off practically no pollutants when they are refined. In addition, the recycling of metals requires fewer materials for production, such as water.
  
  

Provides Jobs

• Recycling plants provide more jobs for workers. Workers are needed to collect the metal scraps, reduce the metals down to a recyclable substance, and to refine the reduced metals.
  
  

Pays Well

• If you aren't easily swayed by the environmental benefits of recycling metal, there is another benefit that may appeal to you. When recycling metal, you can get a rather sizeable payout if you have enough scraps. For example, selling your car to a metal recycler can earn you money from both copper and aluminum scraps.