The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) are doing their best to ensure scrapyards and the £7 billion UK metal recycling sector they represent can recycle metal and protect the environment.

Based in Huntingdon, the BMRA is a trade association, and its mission is to promote the metals recycling industry while safeguarding the interests of the companies it represents.

The BMRA represents over 280 organisations comprising of metal recyclers both in the UK and internationally and acts as a voice for the industry, promoting the sector to policymakers and the public.

The Hunts Post: A crane claw preparing to stack metal into the correct pile to allow for reuse.A crane claw preparing to stack metal into the correct pile to allow for reuse. (Image: BMRA member)

For example, they act for their members on the application of UK environmental policy and regulation and related issues.

Last year the BMRA grappled with the government's decision to withdraw their sector's entitlement to red diesel.

The BMRA argued that the move was "illogical" because currently, no cleaner alternatives can be safely implemented to reduce emissions significantly, and there isn't infrastructure in place to replace red diesel.

The BMRA is also dedicated to promoting the metals recycling sector in the eyes of the general public.

Digital, Marketing and Communications Manager Kate Magill said: “We do want members of the public to be aware of just how recyclable metal is and the fact that much of it that can be put back into, what we call, the circular economy.”

The Hunts Post: An image of metals and materials stacked at a scrapyard.An image of metals and materials stacked at a scrapyard. (Image: BMRA member)

Metal is 100 per cent recyclable, and metals like copper require up to 85 per cent less energy to recycle than used to produce it, and aluminium takes up 95 per cent less energy to recycle.

Around the world, this saves 40 million tonnes of CO2.

Kate added: “Unfortunately, a lot of metal can’t be picked up on your kerbside, so we do encourage people to use a home recycling centre which does have metal bays and also to support your local scrapyard.

"Because if you take in your metal to a scrapyard, depending on what it is, you can be paid for it."

The BMRA also hold various events, and for Global Recycling day, which takes place on March 18, they are planning a campaign called Heart Your Earth.

Heart Your Earth will encourage and ask members to get involved on social media and share how they are showing love towards the earth, spreading the importance of protecting the environment.

Doing so helps raise awareness of the sector's role in reducing the impact on the environment and increasing the focus on sustainability during the country's bid to reach carbon net-zero by 2050.