Aluminum
About 65 percent of America's aluminum is being recycled, but more than one million tons of aluminum containers and packaging are thrown away each year.
Although aluminum is less than one percent of the nation's municipal solid waste stream, it still is one of the most valuable recyclable materials.
Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but other types of aluminum such as siding, gutters, storm window frames, and lawn furniture, can also be recycled.
Aluminum has a high market value and continues to provide an economic incentive to recycle.
Recycled materials, such as aluminum, also provide manufacturers with valuable feedstock. For example, recycled aluminum cans are used to make new cans. In fact nearly 55 percent of new aluminum cans are made from recycled aluminum. The first all-aluminum beverage cans appeared in 1963. The act of recycling used cans began in 1968 in California. One million pounds of aluminum cans were recovered that year, an amount that is melted in about four hours today.
Because aluminum lying in our landfills will still be around in 200 or more years, recycling cans and scrap aluminum makes sense.
Recycling aluminum is so easy, just rinse and store until your next trip by a recycling drop-off area. By recycling aluminum, you will be helping to complete the loop. An aluminum can recycled today will be back on the grocery shelf in about 90 days.