Recycling Materials
- Everyday materials such as glass, metal, plastics, ceramics are produced from natural but finite sources
- Some products made from these materials can be reused which saves energy and decreases the environmental impact
- Glass bottles only need to be washed and sterilised before they can be reused
- Other products cannot be reused in this way but can be processed and recycled
- Metals can be crushed into smaller pieces, then melted and recast into new shapes to make new products
- Sometimes the materials being recycled need to be kept separate, depending on what the use of the recycled material will be
- Iron for example can be recycled together with waste steel as both materials can be added to a blast furnace, reducing the use of iron ore
- Glass that is broken or damaged and cannot be reused is separated by colour and composition before being recycled
- The glass is then crushed and melted, and remoulded into shape for its new use
- Overall, recycling:
- conserves limited raw materials,
- reduces the release of harmful substances into the environment
- reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill
Iron ore supplies can be conserved and will last longer if iron is recycled