Recycling of old metals: a new path to expand the boundaries of environmental protection

In today's increasingly heated environmental issues, the environmental value of recycling old metals is constantly expanding. In addition to common resource recycling and pollution prevention and control, its role in safeguarding marine ecology, supporting low-carbon living, and other emerging fields is gradually emerging, opening up new paths for environmental protection.
The ocean, as an important component of the Earth's ecosystem, is facing the threat of waste metal pollution. With the development of coastal industries and increasing maritime activities, a large amount of scrap metal products such as corroded ship parts and discarded fishing nets and gear have entered the ocean. Under the long-term erosion of seawater, these metals will release heavy metal ions, pollute the marine environment, and pose a threat to the survival of marine organisms. A study has found that the excessive levels of heavy metals in marine organisms in certain areas are directly related to the pollution of waste metals in the surrounding waters. By establishing a comprehensive coastal old metal recycling system and timely recycling and processing various types of marine and coastal waste metals, the amount of metal waste entering the ocean can be effectively reduced. For example, a coastal city has launched a "zero marine metal waste" campaign, organizing professional teams to recycle floating scrap metals at sea, and setting up specialized recycling points in ports and fishing villages. In just six months, more than 300 tons of various types of scrap metals have been recycled, and the quality of seawater in the surrounding areas has improved to some extent. The heavy metal content test results of some fish have also decreased.
The integration of old metal recycling and low-carbon living is becoming increasingly close. In daily life, metal products are ubiquitous from household appliances to transportation, and the production process of these products often comes with high carbon emissions. By recycling old metals for reuse, carbon emissions in the production process of primary metals can be reduced, thereby providing support for low-carbon living in the whole society. According to data from a home appliance company, using recycled metal to produce refrigerator shells can reduce carbon emissions by about 15 kilograms per unit compared to using native metal. In the field of construction, using recycled scrap steel to make building components not only meets quality standards, but also reduces the carbon footprint of the construction industry. Nowadays, more and more consumers are paying attention to whether the products are made of recycled metal materials when choosing goods. This shift in consumer philosophy is also driving companies to actively engage in the recycling and reuse of old metals.
The recycling of old metals also plays a special role in urban ecological restoration. When some cities carry out ecological restoration of abandoned factories, mining areas, etc., they will comprehensively recycle the waste metals in the area. This not only removes obstacles that affect ecological restoration, but also converts recycled metals into materials needed for restoration projects. For example, during the ecological restoration of an abandoned steel plant in a certain city, a large amount of scrap steel was recycled. After processing, the steel was used to build landscape trails, rest pavilions, and other facilities in the restoration area. This not only achieved the recycling of resources, but also added industrial and cultural characteristics to the restoration area, turning the former abandoned factory area into an ecological park loved by citizens.
However, the application of old metal recycling in these emerging environmental protection fields still faces some challenges. In terms of recycling old metals in the ocean, due to the difficulty and high cost of recycling, as well as the lack of professional recycling equipment and technology, the efficiency of recycling waste metals in some sea areas is relatively low; In the field of low-carbon applications, the market recognition of recycled metals still needs to be improved, and some consumers have concerns about the quality of recycled metals, which has affected the promotion of recycled metal products.
To address these challenges, relevant research institutions are increasing their research and development of ocean old metal recycling technologies, developing recycling equipment suitable for different marine environments, and reducing recycling costs. At the same time, industry associations carry out promotional activities to popularize the quality standards and environmental advantages of recycled metals, and improve consumers' awareness and acceptance of recycled metal products. The government is also introducing relevant policies to encourage enterprises to use more recycled metals in product production and provide certain support to enterprises with a high proportion of recycled metals.
The value of recycling old metals in the field of environmental protection is constantly expanding, from land to sea, from industrial production to daily life, and it is protecting the ecological environment in various forms. With the advancement of technology and the increase of social participation, the recycling of old metals will undoubtedly play a role in a broader field of environmental protection, injecting lasting momentum into sustainable development.