It helps to reduce pollution. Extraction of metals from their ores produces much more air, land and water pollution compared to recycling of metals.

It conserves energy resources. Extraction of metals from their ores uses up much more energy compared to recycling of metals.

It conserves limited land resources. Metal mining and smelting processes use up large area of land. Recycling metals reduces the need for these metal mines, and free up the land for alternative uses.