Latest news with #scrapmetal
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
9 best environmentally-friendly razors for a clean shave
Razor blades are meant to be changed frequently, which means waste quickly adds up, not to mention the handles, too. Opting for a razor that lasts a long time (and actually looks nice enough that we want to hold onto it for years), and one that can be recycled, ideally blades and all, is a great alternative. While multi-blade razors are easy to use and tend to deliver a closer shave than single-blade razors, if you have sensitive skin or skin issues, consultant dermatologist Dr Angela Tewari recommends sticking with a single-blade razor (these are often called safety razors). 'Safety razors require a little more patience and skill, even though the technique can be acquired quite quickly', says Dean Harries, co-founder of plastic-free shaving brand Shoreline Shaving. They're weighted, which means they 'give you a smooth shave without the need to apply your own pressure, as long as the blade is sharp', he explains, and recommends short, slow strokes when shaving. And, only 'shave against the grain once you're confident.' After testing lots of razors, some from brands you've heard of, and some you may not have, I've chosen my favourite (the Mühle companion unisex safety razor, thanks to its beautiful design and sharp blades). But, I've also found an adjustable razor, one with a bikini line trimmer, and a blade subscription. Many of the brands in this review have recycling take-back schemes. You should also be able to recycle metal blades as scrap metal at recycling centres, too, but check whether your local centre will do this. How I tested I've been testing these razors over several months. A lot of the brands have their own shaving soaps and shaving oils, but I used the same shaving cream with every razor to keep variables to a minimum. It's also worth noting that most of the brands I tried send blades with their razors, and most of the razors were compatible with any double-edged blades, so you can choose a different blade if you so wish. I assessed each of the razors using the following testing criteria: Ease of use: I acknowledged how comfortable and ergonomic the handles were, assessing their texture and width. I considered the weighting of the head and the handle and how balanced this felt in use. I also changed the blades of all of the razors to assess how easy this was. Shaving results: I made a note of which blades arrived (if included) with each razor, and how gentle and close of a shave I was able to achieve. Environmental considerations and credentials: I asked all of the brands where their razors were made, what materials they're made from, and if and how they could be recycled. I also asked them to confirm whether their razors arrived in 100 per cent plastic-free. I assumed the durability and expected longevity of the razors, looking at the materials and sturdiness of the design. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Lois Borny has years of testing experience to call on, having joined The Independent 's IndyBest section in 2021. She has a particular interest in finding the eco-friendly changes you can make (from waterless shampoo to plastic-free shampoo bars) to better the planet. Beyond this, Lois is conscious of greenwashing and makes sure to fact-check the claims that brands make to ensure that you're getting the best advice possible. All of the products that feature in this review have been tried and tested by Lois The best eco-friendly women's razors for 2025 are:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Brewery member of staff 'knocked over' by van after scrap metal theft
Brewery member of staff 'knocked over' by van after scrap metal theft CCTV images of the white van allegedly involved in the incident (Image: Hook Norton Brewery) A member of staff was 'knocked over' by a van after the driver 'attempted to steal' scrap metal from a brewery. The incident, which is being investigated by Thames Valley Police, happened at Hook Norton Brewery at about 7.57pm on Sunday, July 13. Managing director James Clarke said a few members of staff were 'enjoying the fruits of their labour' when a white van drove into the yard and around the back of the brewery. READ MORE: Nurse found dead in bath at Travelodge While Mr Clarke said this was 'nothing particularly unusual', after a few minutes he realised the van had not returned. ADVERTISEMENT Upon looking at CCTV on his phone he saw a man 'helping himself' to scrap metal. "Two of us went to have a word, and a third staff member closed the yard barrier," said Mr Clarke. "After we told the man he should not be taking property, and best if he left, he drove off. "The yard barrier was still shut at this point, and he drove into it. "We then opened it, but before it was open wide enough, he drove into the barrier, damaging his van, and knocking a member of staff over." READ MORE: Tributes paid to 'lovely' father who was found unresponsive at city address A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: 'We were made aware of a theft at Hook Norton Brewery, Banbury at around 7.57pm on Sunday 13 July. 'A van entered the premises and a man attempted to steal scrap metal. ADVERTISEMENT 'No one was injured in the incident but a gate was damaged as the man made off. 'No arrests have been made at this time. 'Anyone with information should call 101 or make an online report, via our website, quoting reference number 43250352329.'
Arab News
2 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Saudi artist transforms scrap metal into sculpture
JEDDAH: Where others see scrap metal destined for the trash, Saudi artist Mishal Al-Amri sees opportunities to create artwork. In his bustling studio in Jeddah, Al-Amri works to remove rust before cutting, rolling, shaping and joining thousands of pieces of shaped scrap metal by hand. He has been upcycling unwanted bits of metal throughout his artistic career, which has spanned 20 years. 'The artist has an eye that sees what others cannot; an eye that captures the beauty in the heart of the damaged and neglected, and restores it to life and meaning. My ultimate hope and goal are to give scrap metal a new life,' Al-Amri told Arab News. When growing up, Al-Amri loved to draw. As he got older, he started painting. It was not until he retired at the age of 59 that he discovered his true passion and began sculpting with recycled metal after teaching himself how to weld. 'As I said before, it was just a hobby and I stopped it for a long time after I joined the banking sector due to the difficulty of balancing the hobby, the job, and then the family later on. 'Anyhow, when I was approaching 40 years of age, and after having a family and professional job, I began to pursue my artistic journey once again. I worked on paintings during my free time and vacations, and I lived for nearly 26 years just painting, readings, attending art seminars, workshops, and holding exhibitions alongside other local artists.' Speaking about how he started collecting scrap metal items from the street, the 65-year-old said: 'The spark for this artistic journey was the first moments of an evening walk, when my eyes would trace the floor littered with scraps of plastic, scraps of iron and discarded remnants of lighting and plumbing, no longer fit for use or neglected.' He added: 'These pieces I picked up from the streets would become the core of my personal art collection — materials I plucked from the fate of neglect to submit to my ideas and participate in the creation of beauty.' These materials can end up waiting for days and sometimes years in storage in his studio until an idea suddenly emerges. 'The journey of constructing the painting or sculpture begins; from choosing the colors and sizes of the pieces, to weaving the relationships between them into an artistic composition that gives it a new spirit.' The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts recently hosted his first solo exhibition showcasing under the theme 'The Neglected.' 'This exhibition is the fruit of those moments; an invitation to see the beauty in the unusual, and to contemplate art's ability to redefine what is damaged and neglected to ultimately become more precious and valuable,' he said. 'My artistic experience in this exhibition is based on two complementary principles: First, protecting the environment from the effects of pollution and human-caused damage, by collecting remnants of harmful materials in the soil and saving them from becoming a burden on the earth. 'Second, sustaining the usefulness of objects, by recycling them and using them in the field of art after their original function has ended, reborn as works of art that convey an aesthetic, humanitarian and environmental message. Al-Amri says that he plans to continue creating scrap metal sculptures and paintings. 'On a personal level, I want to reopen the Cezanne Fine Arts Center, which I founded years ago and continue to cultivate art until its very end. 'On a more general level, I strive to raise environmental awareness, enabling people to respect and preserve the environment.'
The Independent
04-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Zimbabwe's scrap metal hunters fight climate change a piece at a time
'Any gold in there today?' Ezekiel Mabhiza called to a man hunched over a mound of trash, hoe in hand, rummaging through one of the many illegal dumpsites that scar Zimbabwe's capital. Mabhiza joined in. For the next several hours, he scoured the sites around Harare, using a stick or his bare hands to sift through piles of filth, from discarded diapers to broken appliances. By midday, his pushcart was full. Springs from old mattresses, car parts, tin cans — it all added up to 66 kilograms (145 pounds) of salvaged metal. The haul earned him $8. It's enough to feed his five children for the day, maybe even cover a utility bill in a country where the majority of people survive through informal work. 'I have given up looking for a formal job,' the 36-year-old said. 'You walk the industrial areas all day and come back with nothing. This is my job now. I pay rent, my children eat and go to school.' Across Harare, thousands like Mabhiza live off scrap metal. Quietly, they are helping to sustain a cleaner environment and combat climate change. Making steel relies heavily on burning highly polluting coal, and the industry accounts for nearly 8% of the carbon dioxide emissions that come from the energy sector and contribute to Earth's warming, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD. It takes less energy to turn scrap metal into new steel, so the pickers are helping reduce carbon emissions with their work in addition to cleaning up metals that would otherwise pollute the city. 1,000 tons of waste per day Harare generates about 1,000 tons of waste every day, most of which goes uncollected, according to the city council. People and companies frustrated with erratic collection dump trash on roadsides and open spaces. They sometimes burn it. Once-pristine neighborhoods have become polluted eyesores. Recently, the city council partnered with a green energy waste management company to improve collection amid contested accusations of corruption. But for now, informal pickers like Mabhiza remain indispensable. 'It's a dirty job, yes, but people rarely understand how important it is,' said Fungai Mataga, who runs a scrap metal collection center where Mabhiza and others sell their finds. 'They are society's cleaning crew. Every piece of metal they bring here is one less item polluting our land.' Globally, this kind of scrap metal is vital to the steel industry, accounting for roughly a third of metallic raw materials used in steel production, according to the OECD. With growing concerns over the environmental impact of mining and rising interest in circular economies, demand for recycled materials is increasing. Informal pickers are the 'unsung heroes,' said Joyce Machiri, head of the mining and extractives program at the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association. 'When you look at scrap, no one would actually say, 'Wow, this a good job.' But look at it this way, these are some of the green jobs we are talking about,' Machiri said. Recycled metal is key for the steel industry Many steelmakers cannot afford to invest in new, cleaner technologies. That makes scrap recycling a critical — and accessible — alternative. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that recycling steel and tin cans saves 60% to 74% of the energy required to produce them from raw materials. Although there are no official statistics on the number of scrap metal collectors in Zimbabwe due to the informal nature of their work, they are unmistakable. In Hopley, a poor township in Harare, they streamed into a dusty open lot where they sell their scrap. Some pushed carts. Others carried sacks on their heads. One woman brought a small plastic bag with just enough metal to earn a few cents to buy vegetables for dinner. Inside the yard, heaps of junk like old fridges, microwaves, cups, water heater tanks, generators and car engines were weighed on a giant old scale. Workers handed out cash and loaded the metal onto a 30-ton truck destined for a steelmaker that will buy it for between $220 and $260 a ton. Factories in the southern African country of 16 million people consume about 600,000 tons of scrap metal annually, all locally collected, said Dosman Mangisi, chief operations officer of the Zimbabwe Institute of Foundries, an association of metal casting businesses. Tough and dangerous job: 'I hope I can afford gloves one day' The job of hunting scrap metal is grueling and hazardous. Hunters rise before dawn, walking kilometers to scavenge from landfills, industrial zones, homes and roadside dumps. Some sleep near illegal dumpsites, waiting for trucks that unload waste overnight to avoid arrest. 'I have been lucky not to fall sick,' said Lovemore Sibanda, a security guard who collects scrap on his days off. 'But I am always worried. I hope I can afford gloves one day.' Metal hunters such as Mabhiza and Sibanda have seen it all, from medical waste such as syringes and expired medicines to rotting carcasses of pets such as dogs and cats thrown away by their owners. 'At first, I would lose my appetite for days after seeing things like that,' said Sibanda. 'Now, I am used to it. This is my office. This is where the money is.' ___ ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. For global health and development coverage in Africa, the AP receives financial support from the Gates Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Al Arabiya
04-07-2025
- General
- Al Arabiya
Zimbabwe's Scrap Metal Hunters Fight Climate Change a Piece at a Time
'Any gold in there today?' Ezekiel Mabhiza called to a man hunched over a mound of trash, hoe in hand, rummaging through one of the many illegal dumpsites that scar Zimbabwe's capital. Mabhiza joined in. For the next several hours, he scoured the sites around Harare, using a stick or his bare hands to sift through piles of filth – from discarded diapers to broken appliances. By midday, his pushcart was full. Springs from old mattresses, car parts, tin cans – it all added up to 66 kilograms (145 pounds) of salvaged metal. The haul earned him $8. It's enough to feed his five children for the day, maybe even cover a utility bill in a country where the majority of people survive through informal work. 'I have given up looking for a formal job,' the 36-year-old said. 'You walk the industrial areas all day and come back with nothing. This is my job now. I pay rent, my children eat and go to school.' Across Harare, thousands like Mabhiza live off scrap metal. Quietly, they are helping to sustain a cleaner environment and combat climate change. Making steel relies heavily on burning highly polluting coal, and the industry accounts for nearly eight percent of the carbon dioxide emissions that come from the energy sector and contribute to Earth's warming, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD. It takes less energy to turn scrap metal into new steel, so the pickers are helping reduce carbon emissions with their work, in addition to cleaning up metals that would otherwise pollute the city. Harare generates about 1,000 tons of waste every day, most of which goes uncollected, according to the city council. People and companies frustrated with erratic collection dump trash on roadsides and open spaces. They sometimes burn it. Once-pristine neighborhoods have become polluted eyesores. Recently, the city council partnered with a green energy waste management company to improve collection amid contested accusations of corruption. But for now, informal pickers like Mabhiza remain indispensable. 'It's a dirty job, yes, but people rarely understand how important it is,' said Fungai Mataga, who runs a scrap metal collection center where Mabhiza and others sell their finds. 'They are society's cleaning crew. Every piece of metal they bring here is one less item polluting our land.' Globally, this kind of scrap metal is vital to the steel industry, accounting for roughly a third of metallic raw materials used in steel production, according to the OECD. With growing concerns over the environmental impact of mining and rising interest in circular economies, demand for recycled materials is increasing. 'Informal pickers are the unsung heroes,' said Joyce Machiri, head of the mining and extractives program at the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association. 'When you look at scrap, no one would actually say, 'Wow, this a good job.' But look at it this way: these are some of the green jobs we are talking about,' Machiri said. Many steelmakers cannot afford to invest in new, cleaner technologies. That makes scrap recycling a critical – and accessible – alternative. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that recycling steel and tin cans saves 60 percent to 74 percent of the energy required to produce them from raw materials. Although there are no official statistics on the number of scrap metal collectors in Zimbabwe due to the informal nature of their work, they are unmistakable. In Hopley, a poor township in Harare, they streamed into a dusty open lot where they sell their scrap. Some pushed carts. Others carried sacks on their heads. One woman brought a small plastic bag with just enough metal to earn a few cents to buy vegetables for dinner. Inside the yard, heaps of junk – like old fridges, microwaves, cups, water heater tanks, generators, and car engines – were weighed on a giant old scale. Workers handed out cash and loaded the metal onto a 30-ton truck destined for a steelmaker that will buy it for between $220 and $260 a ton. Factories in the southern African country of 16 million people consume about 600,000 tons of scrap metal annually, all locally collected, said Dosman Mangisi, chief operations officer of the Zimbabwe Institute of Foundries, an association of metal casting businesses. The job of hunting scrap metal is grueling and hazardous. Hunters rise before dawn, walking kilometers to scavenge from landfills, industrial zones, homes, and roadside dumps. Some sleep near illegal dumpsites, waiting for trucks that unload waste overnight to avoid arrest. 'I have been lucky not to fall sick,' said Lovemore Sibanda, a security guard who collects scrap on his days off. 'But I am always worried. I hope I can afford gloves one day.' Metal hunters such as Mabhiza and Sibanda have seen it all, from medical waste such as syringes and expired medicines to rotting carcasses of pets such as dogs and cats thrown away by their owners. 'At first I would lose my appetite for days after seeing things like that,' said Sibanda. 'Now I am used to it. This is my office. This is where the money is.'
