While recycling rates among major Texas cities has lagged behind the national average of 34%, Austin recycling efforts have achieved a 44% waste diversion rate according to a February 2018 report entitled “Trash in America: Moving from Destructive Consumption to a zero-waste system.”
The study which was conducted by the TexPIRG, a consumer rights advocacy group based here in Austin.
According to TexPIRG Director Bay Scroggin, “The consequences of our disposable, single-use society are frightening when you step back and consider the massive public health and environmental effects.”
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality estimates that Texans disposed of about 6.83 pounds of waste per person in 2016. And an estimated 34.73 million tons of waste end up in municipal landfills across the state each year according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
At that rate, our landfills will reach their maximum capacity in about 56 years.
While Austin recycling’s 44% waste diversion rate is good, there’s always room for improvement. Here are some ways you can help.
Scrap Metal Recycling in Austin
Scrap metals present unique threats to the environment when disposed of improperly.
When disposed of in local landfills, these metals break down over time and can leach into the groundwater. Austin’s location on the Edwards Aquifer makes our recycling efforts even more crucial to the environmental health of the entire state.
Scrap metal recycling is the safe, effective way to dispose of your unwanted, recyclable metals.
Scrap Metal Identification
Scrap metals can be broken down into two distinct types – ferrous and non-ferrous. Ferrous metals contain iron which gives them magnetic properties and makes them more susceptible to corrosion. Some examples of ferrous metals include:
- Carbon steel
- Stainless steel
- Cast iron
- Wrought iron
Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron. They are not magnetic and are typically less rigid than ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals include:
- Aluminum and aluminum alloys
- Brass
- Copper
- Nickel
- Lead
- Gold
- Tin
At All American Recycling, we’ve been helping our neighbors in Austin and the surrounding communities recycle their unwanted scrap ferrous and non-ferrous metals since 1984. Whether you’ve got a single item, a truckload or a warehouse full of scrap metal, we can help you recycle them safely and efficiently.
We also offer the best prices around on a wide variety of scrap metals.
Call us at 512-243-1183 to learn more about scrap metal recycling in Austin and the surrounding communities.