Why is recycling cans good

This figure is up from approximately 30 percent in the early s. The environmental and economic win is profound: Production of aluminum from recycled metal saves more than 90 percent of the energy that would otherwise be required by primary production.

Recycling aluminum saves more than 90 percent of the energy that would be needed to create a comparable amount of the metal from raw materials. Nearly 75 percent of all aluminum produced is still in use today. If you do not agree with our use of cookies, please change the current settings found in our Cookie Policy. Otherwise, you agree to the use of the cookies as they are currently set. Skip to main content.

Remember me. Request new password. Search form Search. The Aluminum Advantage. Aluminum Advantage. According to the book "Chemical Principles," refining aluminum from bauxite was so costly in the 19th century that the Washington Monument was given an aluminum tip to symbolize its value. In , chemist Charles Martin Hall invented a cheaper way to refine aluminum from bauxite. The method he discovered is still in use today. Despite its convenience, however, the Hall process uses a considerable amount of energy.

According to the Aluminum Association, an industry trade group, recycling just one can saves the amount of energy it takes to watch the Superbowl -- in other words, the amount of energy needed to power a television for three hours see References 3. In the Hall process, current passes through graphite electrodes submerged in molten alumina, or Al2O3. The carbon in the graphite electrodes reacts with the oxygen in the molten alumina to yield carbon dioxide. Although pure aluminum is isolated in the process, the amount of carbon dioxide released is considerable -- more than 1 ton of carbon dioxide for every ton of aluminum produced see References 6.

So, the energy you use in producing 2 aluminium cans is equal to what can be used to manufacture Reduces Greenhouse Emissions — Producing aluminium from bauxite ore gives off carbon dioxide as a by-product. It is estimated that aluminium and carbon dioxide are produced in equal amounts during this process.

When released in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide can be really harmful. Just imagine the amount of damage to the environment you would be saving when you go for recycling aluminium cans. Reduces Landfills — Every metal that is not recycled or thrown away will either end up in the landfills or the scrapyard. But, reusing aluminium minimises landfills, which eventually aids the environment. Recycling aluminium cans makes sure that our natural resources are saved and fewer quantities of fresh aluminium are produced.

Most facilities that pay deposits do not take crushed aluminum cans. If there is no deposit, crushing the cans saves on storage space until recycled. Most disposal services pick up recycling with the rest of the garbage but may have specific requirements such as certain pickup days and no co-mingling with other recyclables.

Other cities have recycling facilities at designated areas, at community transfer stations, or even offer recycling services through the school. Regardless of how aluminum cans are recycled, within 60 days they are back on the shelf as new aluminum cans and ready to repeat the cycle for the next years. Updated November 22, Why Recycle Aluminum Cans? The Cost to Recycle Aluminum Vs.