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How Schnitzer Creates Value

Recycled Materials and Circular Economy

Metals are infinitely recyclable and have unique properties which can make them irreplaceable in many cases. By advancing a circular economy system, metals never become waste and instead are redesigned into new products.

The Circular Economy Advances Decarbonization

For more than a century, metals have been essential to constructing and modernizing critical infrastructure like bridges, highways, and buildings, and manufacturing everyday products like batteries, electronics, and automobiles.

Many of the low-carbon technologies of the future—wind, solar, and electric vehicles—are more metal-intensive than the technologies they are replacing. Achieving global carbon reduction targets through the implementation of these technologies will require efficient and reliable metals recovery from an evolving feedstock of end-of-life products.

Minerals used in clean energy technologies compared to other power generation sources1
(kg/MW)

Bar chart showing minerals used in clean energy technologies compared to other power generation sources

1 Source: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/minerals-used-in-clean-energy-technologies-compared-to-other-power-generation-sources

Chairman & CEO Message How Schnitzer Creates Value Recycled Materials and Circular Economy Supporting Circular Economy Our Operational Footprint Managing ESG at Schnitzer Sustainability Governance and Principles Stakeholder Engagement Sustainability Goals Meeting Demand for Recycled Metals Advanced Recovery Technologies Environmental Management Climate Action Through Emissions Reduction Indirect Emissions Net Zero Carbon Emissions Steel Water Conservation Biodiversity Safety A Conversation with Suresh Rajapakse Culture Benchmarking Diversity Employee Resource Groups Engaging Employees Everyday Ethics & Compliance Training, Education, Development & Recognition Health & Wellness Cultivating Community Supporting Children & Families Engaging Tomorrow’s Workforce Addressing Food Insecurity Environmental Advocacy

Minerals used in clean energy technologies compared to other power generation sources1 (kg/MW)

Offshore Wind (Units kq/MW)

Onshore Wind (Units kq/MW)

Solar PV (Units kq/MW)

Nuclear (Units kq/MW)

Coal (Units kq/MW)

Natural Gas (Units kq/MW)

1 Source: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/minerals-used-in-clean-energy-technologies-compared-to-other-power-generation-sources