Recycling

10.07.2016

0800

Aluminum Can Recycling Link

Aluminum seems to be one of the more common materials in the United States in which the public is reminded to recycle consistently. It’s a great material that can be reused and can create a closed loop system if recycled properly.The infographic above shows the lifecycle of an aluminum can from beginning to end.

In a nutshell the process of recycling an aluminum can goes as follows:

1. The consumer throws aluminium cans and foil into a recycle bin.
2. The aluminium is then collected and taken to a treatment plant.
3. In the treatment plant the aluminium is sorted and cleaned ready for reprocessing.
4. It then goes through a re-melt process and turns into molten aluminium, this removes the coatings and inks that may be present on the aluminium.
5. The aluminium is then made into large blocks called ingots. Each ingot contains about 1.6 million drinks cans.
6. The ingots are sent to mills where they are rolled out, this gives the aluminium greater flexibility and strength.
7. This is then made into aluminium products such as cans, chocolate wrapping and ready meal packaging.
8. In as little as 6 weeks, the recycled aluminium products are then sent back to the shops ready to be used again.

Some Facts About Aluminum Recycling:

• It saves 95% of the energy compared to making aluminium from its raw materials (known as primary production).
• It saves 95% of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to the primary, or smelting, process.
• It saves raw materials. It reduces the space needed for landfill – where waste is buried in holes in the ground.

If you are a consumer of aluminum cans in your day to day life, please recycle the can or save it to recycle later if there aren’t any recycling locations nearby. It makes a great difference in how we continually use our resources from nature.