As mentioned earlier, steel is 100% recyclable. This is especially important in this commodity chain because the company from which Rogue Fitness obtains their steel bars only promotes the use of materials with a high level of recycled content, (Niagara LaSalle Corporation, 2013). Even at the end of a product’s life, the steel’s 100% recyclability ensures that none of the resources that went in to the production of that steel will be wasted. It is one of the most recycled materials in the world, and one of the easiest to isolate due to its magnetic properties from the iron within it. Recycled steel, otherwise known as scrap can come from steel factories themselves, homes, industries, and discarded products. In the United States, steel recycling from automotive sources are nearing 100%. Recycled steel is a key ingredient to all steel making processes. The process of recycling steel allows for a great amount of savings both in energy and raw materials, such as coal, limestone, and iron ore, (worldsteel association, 2014). Out of the different methods to make steel (which will be shown in greater detail later), the electric arc furnace (EAF) can use 100% recycled steel, effectively dimities the use of the formerly mentioned raw materials. Scrap yards consist of copious amounts of steel just waiting to be recycled. If the recyclability of steel were not as high as it is, the economic effects would be substantial. Due to the significant amount of raw materials that are saved through recycling steel, the process has an impact on various other types of miners, specifically coal miners. This is something that might hit home for the students from the midwest.
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Coal miners, just like iron ore miners, are vital to the production of steel. Also like the iron ore miners, these coal miners face various dangers and difficulties in their occupational environment. Some of the time, these workers can work in confined spaces with the ceiling no higher than a kitchen table. Workers work well below the Earth’s surface and are subject to poor air quality. There is also the risk of mine explosions due to the chemical properties of coal. The argument here is that if steel were not as recyclable and reusable as it is, then the demand for coal would sky-rocket. This would likely lead to even worse occupational conditions, more coal miners, and more coal mines. The economic repercussions would be enormous in comparison to the current conditions.