In the beginning when people began to make objects out of metal, they used gold, copper, and silver. These were the metals of choice because they were very pliable.
Just as people learned to make objects from metal, they also learned that they could save time and the effort of searching for more metal by taking old or broken metal objects, melting them down to make new objects. The metals were recycled.
Iron was first used around 3000 BC, in the Middle East. It was initially used for decorative purposes, but its durability and strength soon made it a popular material for tools and weapons. Iron-working techniques spread throughout the world, and by the 1st century iron was being used extensively in construction projects such as bridges and aqueducts.
One of our earliest recorded pieces sold as scrap metal is the Colossus of Rhodes which was a statue of the Greek sun god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes in 280 BC. It was built to commemorate Rhodes’ victory over the ruler of Cyprus and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The statue was made of bronze and iron and stood approximately 100 feet tall, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. The statue stood for only 56 years before it was destroyed by an earthquake. The remains of the statue were left in place for about 800 years until they were eventually sold for scrap by Arab invaders in 654 AD. The Arabs sold the scrap of the Colossus of Rhodes to a Jewish merchant in the Middle East.
In August 2004, Joe Eskenazt wrote an article for the Jewish News Weekly titled “Junkyards Jews”. The article delved into the history of Jewish involvement in the junkyard industry, highlighting the contributions made by Jewish immigrants who arrived in America with little more than their skills and determination.
Eskenazt’s research revealed that approximately 90% of the junkyards in the country in the 1930’s were owned by Jews, and that their businesses played a significant role in the growth of the American economy. According to Eskenazt despite facing discrimination and prejudice, many of these Jewish junkyard owners persevered and built successful businesses that continue to thrive to this day.
People in almost every country in the world earn money by selling scrap metal. In the United States, the price of metals are tracked and sold on the New York Stock Exchange. Their prices fluctuate daily depending on the world supply, cost and demand. Local recycling businesses buy scrap metal from the public based on these fluctuating prices.
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