Recycling is one of the most used techniques to alleviate the uncontrolled production and accumulation of garbage, as well as the numerous environmental problems associated with poor waste management. Every day we are bombarded with the importance of recycling, through advertising, at school, or through informational campaigns and it will probably not be strange for you to see blue, yellow and green containers near your place of residence.
However, there is still some ignorance or doubt, when choosing which container is the most suitable for our garbage, as for example, with aluminum cans. You want to know where to recycle aluminum cans? At Ecologista Verde we solve all your doubts.
The aluminum used in cans
Aluminum is the third most abundant metal present in the earth's crust, forming part of rocks, plants and animals. However, its extraction is carried out only from bauxite, for being the mineral in which there is a higher content of this element, presenting itself free of impurities.
It's the only one light metal that provides toughness, in addition to many other properties such as ductility, malleability, corrosion resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity, characteristics that make it an ideal material for industrial uses, works and even in the medical sector.
With great ease, we can find this metal in our homes, forming part of pipes, packaging and light containers of beverages and food, such as bricks and cans which are generally recyclable.
Where to throw away and recycle aluminum cans: the yellow bin
The yellow container, is the container for Plastic bottles such as, for example, plastic bottles, bags, containers, cellophane, packing cork, polystyrene trays, etc. However, its use is extended to practically all light packaging, despite the fact that they may contain other materials in their composition. This occurs for example in the case of metal boxes, lids and plugs and aluminum cans or steel.
A common mistake in the use of the yellow container is to throw waste that should be deposited in clean places, such as aerosols, used appliances, toys and metallic objects that are not cans.
In this other Green Ecologist article we tell you much more about what is recycled in the yellow container.
Aluminum recycling
At this point in the article, surely, you will wonder why does aluminum mix with plastic in the same container and what happens next.
Well, once the waste has been collected in the appropriate garbage trucks, it is taken to a Selection Plant, where there are machines capable of separating the different materials deposited in the same container based on:
- Size: by means of a sieve those materials smaller than 8 cm are separated.
- Shape and density: a moving ramp is used to separate the heavier material, which remains at the base of the ramp, from the lighter material, capable of ascending. In addition, very light products such as plastic wrap can be absorbed by suction systems.
- Composition: metal and aluminum cans are selected using magnetic or induction separators, creating currents that repel this metal.
In addition, there is a last control in which the human component participates, so that the operators carry out the revision and separation, if necessary, in a manual way, to ensure the effectiveness of the process.
Once the materials have been separated into the different categories, they are sent to the Recycling Plants to be used and transformed again. In the case of aluminum, large coils of this metal are formed, from which new cans and containers are manufactured.
Finally, it should be noted that aluminum is fully recyclable, and can be recycled countless times without losing its properties or characteristics and again providing quality products.
Now that you know where to recycle aluminum cans, you may also be interested in knowing some Tips to reduce the use of plastics and packaging, including these cans.
If you want to read more articles similar to Where to recycle aluminum cans, we recommend that you enter our Recycling and waste management category.
