Search:

Aluminium Recycling Process

By: Harry Browar Aluminum is one of the major types of products recycled in North America each year. Aluminum is used to make cans, foil, and other items such as trays. Americans recycle approximately 65-70% of the aluminum used in household products each year. However, hundreds of thousands of tons of aluminum products are being thrown away each year.

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.

It is interesting to know the process that the aluminium has to go through before it can be reused. There is a large processing plant that deals with scrap. The various recycling plant send their collection to this plant.

There is a requirement to sort out this aluminium stuff. Once sorted out they are compressed in to blocks. From here these blocks are sent to various aluminium companies. The existing labels and coatings are taken care of in the aluminium company.

The aluminium product that we have has approximately 50% of recycled products. At the aluminium company these blocks are cut into shreds and thereafter crushed. It is here that the labels and coatings etc are removed. The crushed shreds are now melted with new aluminium.

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?

Aluminum is actually the most common metal on earth. So why is it so important to recycle it then? While we are at no risk of running out of aluminum any time soon, using new aluminum requires much more energy than using recycled aluminum. Waste is also a key issue.

A large amount of waste is being produced in North America. They are being put in landfill sites. Landfill sites are difficult to find and it is getting increasingly difficult to dispose our waste. Apart from this the waste is harmful to the flora and fauna in the area of the landfill.

One way that companies can encourage consumers to recycle aluminum is deposits. Most aluminum cans require you to pay a deposit. In order to get that deposit back you must return the can. The can is then transported to the recycling depot and then to the processing plant.

Recycling benefits everyone. It not only cuts down on our waste and saves energy, but it also creates jobs and is good for communities. While most people do their part to recycle and help the environment, many don't, and are still throwing away their aluminum cans and other recyclable products.

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.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Harry Browar is the owner of First Alluminum, the web's premier resource for information about alluminum. For more articles on alluminum visit: www.firstaluminum.com/articles
You can get a unique content version of this article.

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated