Recycling Series: Aluminum!
When it comes to recyclables, nothing CAN top aluminum (see what we did there)? Aluminum is widely used in cars, planes, buildings, phones and even space shuttles! Compared to paper and plastic which have a finite lifespan, aluminum and other ferrous metals like tin and steel can be recycled infinitely and not degrade in quality. It's entirely possible that the beverage can you open next could have been used as far back as the 1800s as 75% of all aluminum and steel ever produced is still in circulation!
How is that possible?!
Recycling of aluminum and other metals are great examples of what's called a "closed loop" recycling system. When products are recycled, the recovered materials can be used to make the same (closed-loop recycling) or a different and sometimes lower grade product (open-loop recycling). In closed-loop recycling, the recycled product maintains its original quality and the process can be repeated infinitely. In contrast, open-loop recycling can lead to compromised material quality and can often only happen a single time.
Plastic is a common example of open-loop recycling. When you recycle a plastic bottle, it is generally “upcycled” or "downcycled" - meaning it comes back as something different. Upcycled objects are more valuable, like turning a plastic bottle into sunglasses, while downcycled objects are less valuable, such as turning that bottle into a recycled bag or carpeting, etc. But aluminum can come back exactly the same - in fact, a recycled can may end up back on your store shelves in as little as 60 days!
What else "can" Aluminum do?
Aluminum is also the most valuable recycled material. It is able to be sold for close to $1,000 a ton. Plastic (#1 PET) is valued at about $230 a ton and glass actually costs money to recycle because it can be easily contaminated once at the recycling facility (based on 2019 values).
Recycling aluminum and other metals is also a powerful way to smartly use our resources. Using recycled aluminum means we don't have to mine for new, which is a highly energy intensive process. In fact it uses 95% less energy to make something from recycled aluminum. And recycling a single can saves enough energy to power your TV for 3 hours.
Because of the efficiency of metal recycling and because there are fewer types of items - think about how many versions of a metal can you see versus how many versions of a plastic bottle - it should be simple to recycle with high recovery rates. Unfortunately in the U.S. our recycling rates are only about 50% for aluminum.
So why don't all cans get recycled?
Generally it has to do with the sorting technology at the materials recovery facility (MRF) where our recyclables go. Cans that get flattened are often mistaken for paper or plastic by optical sorters. This is especially a problem in communities like Glen Ellyn that have single stream recycling - where all our stuff goes in one bin. Communities that pre-sort recyclables in bins (multi stream recycling) or that have bottle and can recovery systems have higher recyclability rates.
Taking a few simple steps when recycling your aluminum can help increase recyclability:
Don't flatten! It's contrary to what many of us learned, but the can "shape" is what is recognizable in the sorting process versus a flattened disc. A little dent is ok, but don't crush
Recycle foil but not yogurt tops Aluminum foil can be recycled - clean it of any stuck on food or sauce. Combine smaller sheets into a ball so it doesn't blow away! Yogurt lids are often coated in plastic, so we recommend not recycling these
Pop tabs are indeed valuable, but if they get pulled off and tossed in your bin, they won't get recycled curbside. They are too small to be sorted! If you remove these make sure they get to a special collection. Ronald McDonald House collects these locally, at College of DuPage Main Campus, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn (Admissions Office in the Student Services Center)
Don't forget about scrap metals Wheaton hosts monthly recycling events where scrap metal is accepted
