If, however, the level of impurities in the cast anode is significant, it is unlikely that the cathode produced will then meet the very high standards required of grade 'A' copper used for the production of fine wires. Where copper and copper alloy scraps are very contaminated and unsuitable for simple remelting, they can be recycled by other means to recover the copper either as the metal or to give some of the many copper compounds essential for use in industry and agriculture. This is the usual practice for recovery of useable copper in slag, dross or mill scale arising from production processes or from life-expired assemblies of components containing useful quantities of copper. Environmental Considerations Copper is an essential trace element needed for the healthy development of most plants, animals and human beings. In general, moderate excess quantities of copper are not known to cause problems.
Every care is taken to avoid wasting copper and it is recycled where possible.
Excess copper is not allowed to escape into the atmosphere as fume, nor into discharged process cooling water, all of which is generally treated to keep within agreed limits. Other metals associated with copper alloys are generally not in a form that is dangerous. However, when fume is generated, for example by melting or welding, it may be necessary to use fume extraction equipment. Beryllium is sometimes used as an alloying element in copper to make some of the strongest copper alloys known, being invaluable for the production of heavy duty springs. When alloyed with copper and in the solid state this presents no health hazard.