Challenges in Copper Recycling

 Copper helps in providing light and durable maintenance-free structures that are naturally long lasting and infinitely recyclable. Copper has the highest electrical conductivity in metals (apart from silver) and makes it ideal for electrical use. It is used for power generation and transmission – it is an important component in motors, generators and transformers. Apart from traditional use in electricity generation, copper is also used in new technologies for renewable energy from solar, wind, and geothermal sources. 

25% of all the copper produced is used in construction – for plumbing, roofing, and cladding. 

Copper recycling is not something that can be executed on individual basis, unfortunately. It is usually executed by commercial recycling businesses of all scales for example, car breakers, plumbing companies, or recycling companies. Thus, one of the biggest challenges that copper recycling faces is the lack of awareness for sending the copper to correct and efficient collection point for recycling. 

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Copper is extensively used in an average household wiring. This can be a difficult item to recycle as it needs to be purified of any of metals or contaminants to make it fit to be used again in electrical components. Almost all copper wiring used for small electrical wiring must be almost pure, devoid of any surface flaws to prevent breaks during rod production. (https://www.copper.org/environment/lifecycle/ukrecyc.html) 

Copper has an infinite recyclable life. This means that copper can be recycled repeatedly without losing its value. (https://copperalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ica-copper-recycling-201712-A4-HR2.pdf)  If the scrap is pure copper and not been contaminated; high quality product can be made from it. Likewise, if scrap consists only of one alloy composition, it is comparatively easier to re-melt to a good quality product. If scrap is mixed, contaminated, or includes other materials such as solder – when this is re-melted, it will be more complex to adjust the composition. (https://www.copper.org/environment/lifecycle/ukrecyc.html) 

It is easier to adjust the composition wherein lead, or tin had been included, but no harmful impurities. For copper scraps that are contaminated with impurities, we may recycle it by diluting it during melting process. This brings down the he impurity levels to an acceptable range of specification. Copper scrap that has been contaminated beyond acceptable limits has to be re-refined back to pure copper using conventional secondary metal refining techniques. 

Scrap metal yards in Dubai play a crucial role in keeping costs of copper down. Production costs are reduced significantly. Recycling a tone of copper uses 15% of the energy that would be used to mine copper. Not only does recycling help in conserving the world's supply of fossil fuels but also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Copper scrap in Dubai is efficiently recycled and reused with initiatives that deploy clean methods by Lucky Recycling, part of Lucky Group, one amongst the metal recycling companies in Dubai.

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