(NAPSA)—The strength of steel can also be found in its recycling appeal. The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) reported that the steel industry continues to reign as king of the recyclables and remains the most recycled material in North America. During 2002, over 70 million tonsof steel scrap found its way to end markets rather than landfills, and this resulted in an overall recycling rate for steel of 70.7 percent, a 4.3 percent increase over 2001. In the case of automobiles, the recycling rate for 2002 decreased slightly to 100.6 percent, from 101.9 percent in 2001. The automobile recycling rate is calculated by comparing the total steel utilized to produce new cars versus the total steel recovered from old cars. “With the auto industry continuing to use more and more High Strength and Ultra High Strength Steels in new vehicle production, we will probably see rates in excess of 100 percent occur more often throughout the first decade of the 21st century,” commented Daniel R. DiMicco, who is vice chairman, president and CEO of Nucor Corporation, and chairman of the American Iron and Steel Institute. DiMicco continued, “These new steels allow automakers to improve fuel economy through increased structural efficiency without damaging the recycling process for the world’s most recycled product, the automobile.” He added, “Steel is the engine that drives the automobile recycling process.” IT’S mains North America’s most recycled material. In 2002, construction and demolition ferrous debris remain at the very impressive recycling rate of 95 percent for structural beams and plates. In addition, there is continued growth in the collection and recycling of rebars and other construction materials, which increased significantly in 2002 to 57.5 percent, from 50 percent in 2001. When it comes to household recycling, appliances continue their impressive trend with a recycling rate in 2002 of 86.6 percent, up from 85.0 percent in 2001. Additionally, Americans continue to participate in their local curbside and drop-off programs and the steel can recycling rate has seen a slight increase in 2002 to 58.5 percent, from 58.1 percent in 2001. The SRI continues to educate consumers that recycling is not limited to the kitchen. Whether it’s an empty aerosol shaving cream can or other empty steel non-food containers, they need to be diverted from the trash bin and placed in the recycling bin. For more information about steel recycling, visit the SRI’s Web site, www.recycle-steel.org.
