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Recycling: Sustainability and Preservation of the environment

According to a post from Grupo Recicla, recycling in Brazil has grown in recent years and steel is among the most recycled materials. About 49% of all steel discarded in Brazil is recycled (http://www.gruporecicla.com.br/2018/04/09/materiais-more-reciclados/).

The numbers become significant when compared to the total recycled materials produced by Brazil in recent years. The panorama of 2017 made by the Brazilian Association of Public Cleaning and Special Waste (ABRELPE) shows that Brazil generated about 43,945 tons of recycled waste that year. To read the full survey on that go to (http://abrelpe.org.br/panorama/).

A collective consciousness about the preservation of the environment, sustainability and steel is being created in the country. The case of stainless steel is special because it is being used as the substitute for materials that have a negative impact on nature.

The amount of news that show sick animals that ingested waste from improperly discarded objects is increasing, thus increasing the concern of the general population. That, in turn, helps several movements that seek to reduce the production of disposable products, such as those made of plastic, one of the most harmful materials to the environment.

According to a survey by the Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo (IO-USP) 95% of the waste found on Brazilian beaches are plastic items. Check out more information on that on the following link (http://www.io.usp.br/index.php/noticias/1021-more-de-95-do-lixo-nas-praias-brasileiras-e-plastico-indica-estudo1) .

Among the best sustainable alternatives, steel stands out because it can be recycled completely. The material does not lose its properties when reused as a raw material for the manufacture of other objects. Stainless steel objects are gaining space because they have a long useful life and can be cleaned easily. Everyday disposable utensils are being replaced by stainless steel replicas. Some of the best examples of that are the straws and the cups.

The two products are some of the most consumed that do not have a proper destination once the consumer have used them. It is common for straws and cups to be found in rivers and seas. Stainless steel does not knead or scratch even when dropped.

The characteristic that makes steel a strong ally for sustainability is the resistivity of its alloy. Even after being recycled several times, the steel maintain its quality.

Recycling is not only important for reducing waste and for preserving the environment, it is also the best option for reducing electricity consumption. The energy used to recycle an object is 80% less than the energy spent for the generation of a new product. The recycling not only of steel, but of all materials is a factor of extreme importance for the sustainability and preservation of the environment.
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