1. Metal recycling

1.1 Birth, life and death of a product

Awareness of an object's end-of-life is a growing concept in our modern society, which until now has been primarily oriented towards consumption, creativity, development and growth.

It's easy to understand, however, that capital goods and consumer products are no different from human beings: their lives are short-lived.

If all goods were biodegradable, at least within a reasonable timeframe, we probably wouldn't need to wonder about their fate. The persistent existence of used goods in a state of progressive degradation, and the inconvenience they eventually generate, introduces the concept of waste.

While the treatment of waste is initially motivated by the practical aspects...