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Recycling Steel for a Greener Earth

Engineer and architectures admit the durability, strength and functionality of steel. Now they started considering the recycling property. The motive of recycling incorporates economic aspect however, today it is considered more due to environmental concerns. Recycling not only conserves energy but also saves money. It helps in conserving the limited natural resources from which steel has been manufactured. Recycling steel is more cost effective than the process of making new steel from ores. Since steel is a durable metal, the recycling is not frequent and needs to manufacture new steel to meet the market demand. Today three pounds of new steel is produced from recycling old steel.

The efficiency of recycled metal is measured by its percentage of recycled content or reclamation rate. Recycled content means how much of recycled material is present in the finished product. Whereas the reclamation rate means how many times or often the material is recycled till the end of its life. Steel performs well in both measures. It is due to US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system that drives to recycle steel. The council promotes the use of recycled steel.

The waste steel from constructions can be recycled easily. Not only the recycle content and reclamation rate makes steel recyclable material but the magnetic properties of steel enables easy separation of other metals. Recycling steel contributes to environmental conservation on large scale. The building made of recycled steel materials are being called as “GREEN BUILDINGS”. Builders and architectures are now practicing to use more and more of recycled materials for a greener earth.