3 Major Challenges in the Metal Recycling Industry
10 February 2022One material that is significantly recycled nowadays is metal. Metal is a material utilised by many industries thanks to its incredible features.
One incredible feature of metals is durability. Different types of metals are durable as they can easily resist weather elements. Their durability can then be enhanced with special coating, making them resistant to corrosion and wear. Metals are likewise versatile as they can be prepared, polished, and manufactured depending on one’s liking. Other notable features of metals include great electric conductivity, excellent heat conductivity, and mesmerising appearance.
But one feature that certainly makes metals great for industries is their recyclability. Various products that contain metals are being collected and recycled to ensure that the supply for metal sheets will not be depleted. However, there are select challenges that the metal recycling industry faces today.
- Poor Segregation Awareness
One of the challenges that the metal recycling industry faces today is the lack of segregation awareness among consumers and businesses. The segregation of waste products is being recommended by the authorities so that their disposal and collection can be much easier. But as more wastes are discarded in landfills, the lack of any segregation process makes it difficult for the metal recycling industry to collect and manage wastes that still have valuable scrap metals. The industry likewise has some struggles in encouraging people to discard old, faulty things that can still be recycled instead of storing them.
- Inadequate Sorting Solutions
Another challenge that the metal recycling industry faces nowadays is the lack of enough sorting solutions. Technology has been constantly evolving through the years. However, most advancements in technology only prioritise things not related to the metal recycling industry. Therefore, the industry still lacks the tools needed for the quick identification of the products as well as their vital collection, sortation, and thorough processing. Once more advanced sorting tools are generated, the processing of scrap metals is expected to be done much easier.
- Processing Electronic Waste
Electronic waste or E-waste pertains to electrical or electronic devices that were discarded by their respective owners. What is common about electrical and electronic devices is that they typically feature different types and sizes of metal materials. While recycling centres can already separate these metal components, it can still take a lot of time and energy just to finish the whole recycling process. To accommodate the growing number of E-wastes, the recycling industry would require additional recycling processing facilities to overcome the problem with such wastes.
Despite the challenges faced by the metal recycling industry, it still readily caters to the metal recycling demand of various industries. If you need to know more about the metal recycling process, you can contact us at Victorian Metal Traders. We are the leading scrap metal recycling company based in Victoria, Australia. We are buyers of all grades and all quantities of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
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