Speaking of ethics, I am proud of the scrap industry, it is one of the more ethical industries out there. It helps both the economy and the environment, helps conserve natural resources, and reduces global warming. Industrial recycling first started during WWII because of a shortage of materials, but in the 1960s-70s it too on an environmentally conscious character. Shortage was no longer the main reason. Building up in landfills. The public became aware that scrap contains toxic metals (mercury, lead), which contaminate soil and water and wildlife. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that in 2013, recycling and composting cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 186 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Also, metal recycling uses up to 40% less water, and aluminum recycling uses up 95% less energy than drilling for ores. And economically speaking, recycling creates nearly $18 billion in export sales per year on average.