Are We Running Out Of Metal?

Are We Running Out Of Metal?

Almost everything is Metal. The phone, computer or device you use to read this news article contains Metal. Every year, a vast range of products are created and sold, each with Metal. This raises the question: are we running out of Metal? How can we sustain such a high demand for metals?

What Is a Non-Renewable Resource?

A natural substance consumed faster than it replenishes called a non-renewable resource. A common misconception is that non-renewable resources are entirely finite, but this is not strictly true. It’s important to note that elements replenish over time; however, we class resources as non-renewable because the rate at which we use them is greater than the rate at which they are replenished, ultimately leading to a reduction in the number of resources over time if our usage continues.

Is Metal a Non-Renewable Resource?

Metal ores are regarded as non-renewable resources as they can take thousands, if not millions, of years to replenish, depending on the type. However, this does not mean we are at risk of depleting the Earth’s metal resources. Existing in the Earth’s crust are vast quantities of Metal, and many people underestimate the sheer volume and size of our planet. Humans have been mining for an estimated 40,000 years, and the deepest mine ever created is approximately 2.4 miles deep. Compare that to the Earth’s crust which is 21 miles deep on average, and even the crust is less than 1% of the planet’s overall volume. We are confident in saying that we will never exhaust the Earth’s metal resources in their entirety.

So What’s The Problem?

A common misconception is that while elements and minerals are abundant on our planet, we cannot harvest them all. We are also uncertain exactly where many of these metal elements are hiding, and much of it is the lack of technology to reach them.

Why Is Metal Recycling Important?

Recycling reduces the need to mine for new Metal by reusing the metals already in circulation. Fortunately, Metal is highly recyclable, the vast amount of which can be recycled repeatedly without losing its original properties. Owners of everyday products containing metals can and efficiently sell their scrap to reputable merchants. They can then process the products down to their initial elements before selling them back to various industries to use in products once again.

At Reclamet, we pay top prices for all scrap metals, scrap cars, catalytic converters, alloy wheels, etc. We offer a collection service for more significant amounts of scrap.

Call: 01843 800800
Email: enquiries@reclamet.co.uk