Factorio Forums

I think it would be fun to have a feature in the game to dump a large amount of things into a big specialized furnace that takes anything you want and smelts it down to "Recycled Material," that then could be processed back into iron or copper plates.

Something like a mini branch of tech that is totally optional but somehow benificial in some tiny but noticeable way.

I encourage you to search for recycling or dissassembling into the Ideas and Suggestions subforum.
You might see one of the suggestions linked in here : viewtopic.php?f=80&t=21278

Unnessary. Better consider opportunity cost and integrate content which is actually adding to the game.