Recycling – Not Just Blue Bins & Aluminum Cans

by John Odeen, Marketing Intern – January 25, 2012

 The American steel industry is the global leader in steel recycling and the recycling of other ferrous metals. Operating with the lowest energy consumption per ton of steel produced in the world, our nation sets the standard for the global sustainability effort .¹ Recognized as one of the world’s first green industries, the American steel industry has been actively recycling for more than 150 years. And why wouldn’t we? We recognize that without compromising quality, the efficiency of the steel recycling process is not matched by any other industry in the world. At Taubensee Steel & Wire Company, 95% of the steel we use in our manufacturing process is recycled.

Steel is the world’s most recycled material, and for good reason. Due to the magnetic properties of steel, it is easily removed from other recyclables before being melted and re-manufactured. Rather than extracting raw materials from the earth, using recycled steel and other ferrous metals throughout production lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 58%. The energy saved by using recycled steel reduces the annual industry energy consumption by about 75%, which is enough energy to power 18 million American households for an entire year.²

The steel recycling industry in the United States is a 90.6 billion dollar market. This accounts for 0.62% of the nation’s total economic activity; making it comparable to the forestry and fishing industries combined, the toy industry, and even all of the nation’s professional sports teams. In 2011, the steel recycling industry employed 137,640 Americans. In addition, 321,500 jobs indirectly support this industry.³ As domestic manufacturing increases and the economy grows, so too will the demand for domestic steel. At Taubensee Steel & Wire we are committed to sourcing recycled steel to manufacture wire and bar products for decades to come.