Aluminum Recycling

In North America, one of the most frequent products to be recycled is aluminum. It's main uses are in making cans, foil, and trays, among other things. Americans are known to recycle about 65-70% of the aluminum they use annually. This still leaves hundreds of thousand of tons just tossed out.

People tend to think of pop cans as the only item to recycle. Actually, there are hundreds of other items made from this particular metal. Even large items like lawn furniture qualify. If you have something you're not sure about, give your local recycling center a call.

Aluminum recycling is actually an interesting process. First the items are collected from the different recycling centers and transported to a scrap metal plant.

When the aluminum gets there it is sorted and then crushed into slabs. Any labels or coating on the cans or other pieces will be taken care of at their next stop, the aluminum company.

Once at the aluminum company the slabs are shredded and crushed. During this process any labels, coating, etc is removed. The shredded aluminum is then melted with new aluminum. Most aluminum products that we buy have approximately 50% recycled product in them.

Once it has been melted the aluminum can be made into any shape necessary. Of course, the process will differ slightly depending on the type of product that is being being made. Aluminum recycling sounds easy doesn't it?

Aluminium is readily available on earth and there is no possibility of exhausting this resource in the near future. Hence, it is important to know as to why should we recycle aluminium. New aluminium requires much more energy to produce than recycling aluminium. The other key factor is the waste, which will be created in case not recycled.

North Americans produce an enormous amount of waste each year. And where does it all go? Landfills are filling up and we are running out of places to put our waste. Not only that, but waste is very harmful to indigenous flora and fauna that live in the areas that we have decided to use for our landfills.

To get more people to recycle aluminum, companies might consider deposits. When we buy a can, we usually are paying a deposit built into its price. If we want that deposit back, we must return the can. It then enters the cycle of going to a recycling center and then on to be processed.

Most people help the recycling process and in the bargain protect the environment. There are still many people who throw away these cans and other recyclable products instead of sending them for recycling. Recycling is good for all. It reduces our waste products and conserves energy. The process also creates many jobs and helps the community.

If there is no recycling program in your area why not get an environmental group started and make that your first project? You will probably find that many people want to get involved, including local area businesses.

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Harry Browar is the owner of First Alluminum, the #1 source on the internet for information about alluminum, For more articles on alluminum why not visit: www.firstaluminum.com/articles
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