Recycle - Don't Throw Away that Empty Can

The typical American consumes 2.5 cans of soda or other beverages each day. Each can is worth approximately 1 cent. Every time we throw away an empty can rather than recycling it, we are throwing away more than just a penny. Recycling has many benefits beyond the spare change that a bag of cans could obtain at a local recycling center.

Recycling an aluminum can conserves energy. Reduce, reuse, recycle are the main principles of waste management. Recycling is taking an old used product at the end of its life cycle, and transforming it into a new useable material. A used can will be recycled and back on the shelf with new liquid in 60 days. None of the cans is wasted and 100% of the can will be recycled. It is possible to recycle cans over and over again. There is no limit to the number of times that aluminum can be reprocessed.

The recycling process is simple. The old cans are stripped of their labeling and décor and broken into tiny potato chip size pieces. Those pieces are then mixed and melted with new aluminum. The combination of old and new aluminum is fed to a mill which rolls it out and reduces the thickness. The aluminum is coiled and sent to can manufacturers who shape the aluminum into cans and lids. It is then sent to the beverage manufacturers to be filled. New non recycled aluminum cans are made from bauxite ore. 4 tons of ore are required to make 1 ton of aluminum.

Recycling takes 95% of the energy is takes to produce a brand new can from raw materials. Twenty recycled cans takes the same amount of energy that 1 new can takes. A recycled can saves enough energy to burn a 100 watt light bulb for 3.5 hours. Recycling 7 cans keeps that light bulb going for the entire day.

Throwing away an empty can is equivalent to throwing away half a can of gasoline.

The benefits of recycling cans are numerous. The most obvious benefit is the conservation of natural resources. The energy savings mentioned above are also beneficial. Recycling cuts down on pollution produced in the manufacturing of new aluminum cans. The benefit recycling has for charitable organizations are often overlooked. The recycling industry pays out over 800 million dollars for used empty aluminum cans. Money can be raised by recycling cans to fund charity projects. Habitat for Humanity is one charity that funds many of their housing projects from money raised from recycling aluminum cans. Cans for Habitat is a partnership between the Aluminum Association and Habitat. This program has been around for 10 years. Over 600 Habitat affiliates collect cans to raise money to build homes.

There are several ways to donate cans for recycling. Curbside pickup is available in many cities. Schools, churches, or work may have recycling bins handy.

Charities such as Habitat accept donations of cans. Recycling centers will purchase bags of cans based on weight. With so many options available, there is really no good excuse not to recycle cans.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Recycling

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell