Every day, manufacturers let money slip through their wastewater. Copper, manganese, cadmium—metals that could be recovered and reused—are treated as waste. Once they’re gone, they’re replaced with virgin material pulled from volatile supply chains.

The problem isn’t just environmental. It’s financial.

Metals in Wastewater Are Assets, Not Liabilities

Copper is a good example. In most facilities, dissolved copper ends up in treatment systems where it’s neutralized and hauled away as sludge. But recovered copper is immediately reusable—and valuable.

On top of that, each kilogram of copper you reclaim avoids 3–10 kilograms of CO₂ emissions that would otherwise come from mining and refining. That’s money saved and emissions prevented in a single step.

The Real Cost of Letting Metals Go

When metals are lost, costs stack up quickly:

• Lost revenue from resources that could have been sold or reused.
  
  
• Added purchasing costs to replace those materials with new supply.
  
  
• Disposal expenses for hauling and handling chemical sludge.
  
  

Most companies are paying twice: once to treat the metals, and again to get rid of them.

A Different Approach: Recover, Don’t Dispose

ElectraMet’s electrochemical systems capture metals directly out of wastewater. No chemicals, no membranes, no sludge. The metals come out in pure form, ready for resale or reuse.

Instead of paying for disposal, facilities can create a new revenue stream and reduce reliance on outside suppliers.

Why It Matters Beyond Cost

Recovering metals isn’t just about saving money. It strengthens ESG performance by reducing mining demand and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It also shows customers and regulators that sustainability is built into the operation—not just added on at the end.

Every kilogram of metal you let go is wasted value. With recovery in place, wastewater stops being a liability and starts paying you back.

👉 Explore how recovery shifts the total cost picture—download our eBook or talk with our team.