Why Recycling Gold, Silver and Platinum Scrap Helps the Environment
Here at Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners, we are proud that we are helping to protect the environment with everything we do.
When we are processing precious metal scrap of any kind, we use the latest processes that virtually eliminate the release of noxious gases into the air. Although smelting and other reprocessing processes often involve high temperatures, we never release heated liquids or gases into the air or the water supply. We pride ourselves on having a very small carbon footprint. So when you send your gold, platinum, or silver scrap to us for testing and processing, you can do so with a clean conscience.
Still More Reasons why Recycling Helps the Earth, the Environment and the World
Mining is a dirty business. In fact, it is all but impossible to extract gold, silver, platinum, and even base metals like copper from the earth without causing air pollution, water pollution, soil erosion, and damage to wildlife habitats. Of all forms of mineral extraction, open-pit mining is probably the most harmful of all.
So bear in mind that every ounce of precious metal that you reclaim through our recycling processes is an ounce of precious metal that did not need to be mined. And every ounce you reclaim can be used to make jewelry, electronics, and everything else that utilizes these under-sourced materials.
You might have heard an objection to that argument, that goes something like this . . .
Only a percentage of the gold, silver, and other valuable materials are reclaimed when scrap is recycled.
There is some truth to that. One example? Even if you recycle a non-precious metal like aluminum that is found in old beverage cans, 100% of the metal they contain is never completely recovered. But looking at that objection from a wider perspective, if a recycling center extracts only 80% of the aluminum those cans contained, that recovered metal finds new uses and does not need to be mined from the earth. That alone helps explain why recycling is the right thing to do.
Recycling Also Helps Improve the Quality of Life for Workers Around the World
You have probably heard the term “green gold,” which has nothing to do with the color of the metal. It designates gold that has not been mined. Recycling gold and other metals are the right thing to do because it helps fight the practice of using underpaid miners who work in hazardous circumstances in Africa and other regions of the world. So again, recycling helps the world.
You might have heard an objection to the concept of “green” practices too. It goes something like this . . .
If you use recycled metals instead of relying on the work of miners, you are denying them their livelihood and they will suffer.
Again, there is some truth to this idea. If mines close in Africa and other parts of the world where precious metals are found, some people will indeed lose their jobs, even though their jobs are hazardous in the extreme. That is a social problem.
But perhaps we can learn some future lessons from trends right here in the United States. In West Virginia, for example, coal miners have lost jobs when mines have closed. Yet a number of companies are opening manufacturing facilities and other businesses in that state because they want to take advantage of a sizable and eager workforce. Recently, Clorox has announced plans to construct a large manufacturing plant in Charleston. And Ranger Scientific, a company that makes ammunition, is opening a new plant in Montgomery that will employ more than 100 workers.
Of course, social conditions in Africa and other remote regions are not like those in the U.S. But we would like to hope that companies, when they realize that workers need employment, will move in and offer them jobs.
You Can Feel Good about Recycling Gold, Silver, Platinum and Other Metals
Despite objections and doubts, there is no question that replacing freshly mined metals with recycled materials is the right thing to do.
We think you will agree. And if you have scrap and other materials to recycle, we encourage you to call us at 800-426-2344. We are here to answer your questions . . . and responsibly test and reclaim metals without doing harm.