Non-ferrous metals are among the most intensively recycled materials in modern economic life. This situation is not the result of recent political encouragement or life style changes. It is the result of centuries of economic development. Several common features of non-ferrous metals have stimulated this development.

Non-ferrous metals are commonly found in the earth but are difficult to find in concentrated form (a deposit), and difficult to extract and refine. This means that non-ferrous metals produced from primary sources sell for relatively high prices.

During both first use (that is, during fabrication) and end use (that is, in the life of the finished product), non-ferrous metals retain their basic properties and thus retain their utility value to a much larger extent than is the case with most industrial materials. At each stage of the production and use process, the non-ferrous metal may be returned to the supply chain without significant loss of its intrinsic properties.