Understanding The Importance Of Lead Recycling

• 11 May 2023
• by Melbourne Metal Recycling
• 0 Comments

Lead is a metal that is very soft, highly malleable, and ductile. It has great resistance to corrosion and relatively poor electricity conduction. This bluish-white lustrous metal is often used in car batteries, ceramic glazes, organ pipes, a glass of computer and television screens, sheeting, cables, solders, lead crystal glassware, ammunitions, bearings, weight in sports equipment, and many more.

The lead element that is used in a wide variety of applications can be found in ore with zinc, silver, and copper. Galena, the most important ore of lead in the world, is typically mined in Australia that accounts for almost 20% of the world’s new lead. The world production of new lead is said to be peaked at 6 million tonnes a year and workable reserves of almost 85 million tonnes, which is less than 15 year’s overall lead supply.

Lead Recycling as the Answer

Industries that revolve around the use of lead-based batteries have been growing every year. And while the supply of lead can be extracted from our natural mineral reserves, it must still be noted that lead is not a renewable resource. It takes a very long time for this metal to form naturally, which is why materials made from lead must be managed responsibly.

As a solution to the continuous demand for lead products, industries now opted to recycle and reuse scrap lead products. Aside from replenishing the lead supply, the recycling of lead has provided great environmental advantages. For one, lead recycling has significantly reduced the release of lead to the environment. In case you do not know, the disposal of lead materials, especially batteries, can be dangerous for people’s health and the environment. And as soon as the lead products clear up the landfills, the pollution associated with lead will be eradicated in the long run.

Another advantage of lead recycling is that it has saved tonnes of new natural resources from being extracted. This process presents an opportunity for our natural resources to nourish without any disruptive actions from humans. Recycling of lead also contributes to a smaller carbon footprint than mining and has significantly reduced the waste associated with primary extraction.

Lead recycling has also contributed to the conservation of energy since it only amounts to a smaller carbon footprint. The practice of recycling of lead materials is highly energy-efficient since it only takes only 35 to 45 percent of the energy required to produce primary lead from ore. Moreover, energy is also saved since lead can be re-melted and recycled without sacrificing its main properties.

The Process of Lead Recycling

Scrap lead products undergo simple recycling steps and procedures. Products made of lead are first returned to metal dealers, stores, and others before sending them to collection points. Scrap lead products are then collected by recycling companies. The recycler, at this point, will separate all lead components from their source products. Once separated, all lead components will be smelted and refined to produce new lead products like batteries, building construction materials, cable sheathing, and many more.

With lead recycling, you are assured that your lead products will be used again without harming the environment and people’s health. If you want to have your lead products recycled and reused, feel free to contact us at Melbourne Metal Recycling.