Editing Metal (section)

===Recycling===
[[File:CompactedSteelScraps.jpg|thumb|left|A pile of compacted steel scraps, ready for recycling|alt=A pile of compacted steel scraps]]
Demand for metals is closely linked to economic growth given their use in infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, and consumer goods. During the 20th century, the variety of metals used in society grew rapidly. Today, the development of major nations, such as China and India, and technological advances, are fueling ever more demand. The result is that mining activities are expanding, and more and more of the world's metal stocks are above ground in use, rather than below ground as unused reserves. An example is the in-use stock of [[copper]]. Between 1932 and 1999, copper in use in the U.S. rose from 73 g to 238 g per person.<ref name="unep.org">[http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/Publications/tabid/54044/Default.aspx ''The Recycling Rates of Metals: A Status Report''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101194304/http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/Publications/tabid/54044/Default.aspx |date=2016-01-01}} 2010, [[International Resource Panel]], [[United Nations Environment Programme]]</ref>

Metals are inherently recyclable, so in principle, can be used over and over again, minimizing these negative environmental impacts and saving energy. For example, 95% of the energy used to make aluminium from bauxite ore is saved by using recycled material.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/feb/22/pledges.waste ''Tread lightly: Aluminium attack''] Carolyn Fry, Guardian.co.uk, 22 February 2008.</ref>

Globally, metal recycling is generally low. In 2010, the [[International Resource Panel]], hosted by the [[United Nations Environment Programme]] published reports on metal stocks that exist within society<ref>[http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/Publications/tabid/54044/Default.aspx ''Metal Stocks in Society: Scientific Synthesis''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101194304/http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/Publications/tabid/54044/Default.aspx |date=2016-01-01}} 2010, [[International Resource Panel]], [[United Nations Environment Programme]]</ref> and their recycling rates.<ref name="unep.org"/> The authors of the report observed that the metal stocks in society can serve as huge mines above ground. They warned that the recycling rates of some rare metals used in applications such as mobile phones, battery packs for hybrid cars and fuel cells are so low that unless future end-of-life recycling rates are dramatically stepped up these critical metals will become unavailable for use in modern technology.