Nonferrous metals are those that contain little or no iron. They include
aluminium, brass, copper, lead, zinc and some stainless steel alloys.
When products such as aluminium cans, copper wire or car batteries
complete their useful life they become scrap metal and can be recycled
to manufacture new consumer products. Nonferrous metals are also an
important raw material conserving natural resources such as virgin
ores. In addition, far less energy is required to manufacture products
using recycled nonferrous metal.
Nonferrous scrap
is generated in industry as a by-product of the manufacture of aluminium
cans, brass locks or copper tubing for example. Nonferrous scrap
is also generated by the general public in the form of discarded,
dismantled and worn-out items such as gold, silver and platinum
can be recovered from computer components. Silver is also recovered
from used photographic materials.
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