The Basics & Benefits of Recycling Scrap Metal in East Grinstead

Scrap metal recycling is the process of recovering valuable metals – such as scrap copper and scrap lead – from discarded or old items. They can then be reused in new products. This not only conserves natural resources, but also reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and decreases greenhouse gas emissions associated with metal production. A scrap yard or scrap metal merchant in East Grinstead or its surrounds, like our own, will often accept items like scrap uPVC windows and scrap uPVC doors, due to the fact these materials can also head into secondary production cycles.

Scrap metal can come from a variety of sources including homes, businesses, construction sites, and end-of-life vehicles. The most commonly recycled metals include iron, steel, aluminum, scrap copper, scrap lead, and brass. Recycling these metals can save up to 90% of the energy needed to extract and produce them from raw materials, making the scrap yard and scrap metal merchant a vital part of keeping the earth clean and healthy, something East Grinstead Metal Recycling is very proud of.

Scrap metal recycling begins with the collection of discarded items. These items are sorted and processed by a scrap yard or a scrap metal merchant to separate the metal from any non-metallic materials, such as plastics, glass, and dirt. The separated metal is then shredded and melted down into smaller pieces, known as ingots. The ingots are then sold to manufacturers around East Grinstead and the wider UK who use them to produce new products. Processing of scrap uPVC windows and scrap uPVC doors is slightly different, but has the same end goal.

Scrap Metal – 4 Economic & Environmental Advantages

• The first benefit attached to scrap metal recycling is conservation of natural resources. Extracting and producing new metal requires a significant amount of energy and resources, including water and minerals. By recycling existing metal, these resources are conserved and the amount of waste sent to landfills is reduced. Additionally, the process of recycling metal produces less greenhouse gas emissions compared to producing new metal from raw materials.


• Another benefit of scrap metal recycling is the creation of jobs. The recycling industry – which includes a good number of East Grinstead companies, like our local scrap yard and scrap metal merchant – employs millions of people globally. This includes those who collect and process items containing scrap copper, scrap lead and similar materials, as well as those who manufacture new products from recycled metal.


• Scrap metal recycling also has a positive impact on the economy. The recycling industry provides a source of raw materials for manufacturers, reducing the need for imported metals. This not only supports local businesses around East Grinstead, but also helps to reduce the trade deficit and create a more sustainable economy.


• There are also environmental benefits to scrap metal recycling. Metal production and disposal are two of the largest contributors to air and water pollution. By recycling metal, the amount of waste sent to landfills is reduced, decreasing the negative impact on the environment. Additionally, reprocessing items containing scrap copper, scrap lead, and also reusing items like scrap uPVC windows and scrap uPVC doors, reduces the need for new mining / creation of synthetic materials, which can result in habitat destruction and negative impacts on wildlife.