Every year approximately 9.591 billion aluminium drinks cans are produced in the UK, 75% of which are recycled. Our efforts to recycle aluminium preserves our natural resources, energy, and alleviates the annual pressures put on our local landfill sites. Read on to learn more about the aluminium can recycling efforts in the UK and how you can help contribute.
Recycling Metal 101
So, how do we go about recycling all this metal? Well, there are a few different ways:
- Scrap Metal Dealers: There are thousands of scrap metal dealers across the UK who will pay you for your unwanted metal. All you need to do is take your metal to your local scrap dealer and they will weigh it and pay you accordingly.
- Metal Recycling Centres: Most local councils have metal recycling centres where you can take your unwanted metal. The metal is then recycled and sold on to scrap dealers or other companies who use recycled metal in their products.
- Skip Hire: If you have a lot of metal waste, you may want to consider hiring a skip. This is a great way to get rid of all your metal waste in one go, and the skip company will usually recycle the metal for you.
- Local Authority Collected Waste: Some local authorities offer a metal recycling service where they will collect your metal waste and recycle it for you. This is a great option if you don’t have the time or resources to recycle your metal yourself.
- Metal Recycling Banks: Many supermarkets and shopping centres have metal recycling banks where you can deposit your unwanted metal. The metal is then collected and recycled by the company who runs the bank.
By following these simple tips, you can help to reduce the amount of metal waste that ends up in landfill sites each year. And that’s good news for the environment!
How Aluminium Cans Are Recycled
When you recycle an aluminium can in the United Kingdom, it doesn’t just magically disappear. It goes through a process that begins with sorting and ends with melted down aluminium that can be used to create new products. Here’s a look at how aluminium cans are recycled in the UK:
- Sorting: The first step in recycling aluminium cans is sorting. Cans are sorted by type, colour, and other factors. Once they’re sorted, they’re ready to be cleaned.
- Cleaning: The next step is cleaning the cans. Cans are cleaned using a method called “wet-cleaning.” This involves using water and detergent to remove any dirt or debris.
- Shredding: After they’re cleaned, the cans are shredded into small pieces. This makes it easier to extract the aluminium from the can.
- Extraction: The aluminium is then extracted from the can using a process called “electrolysis.” This process uses electricity to separate the aluminium from the can.
- Melting: Once the aluminium is extracted, it’s melted down and formed into new products. These products can be anything from new aluminium cans to car parts.
So, that’s how aluminium cans are recycled in the UK. The process may seem complicated, but it’s actually quite simple. And it’s important to recycle aluminium cans because they can be reused over and over again. So, next time you finish a can of drink, be sure to recycle it!
Is Aluminium Can Recycling Efficient?
Aluminium is a versatile material that can be recycled repeatedly without losing its quality. In fact, around 75% of all aluminium produced is still in use today.
Recycling aluminium requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminium from scratch. This makes it an extremely cost-effective way to conserve resources and reduce carbon emissions.
When recycling aluminium cans, for example, you can save 95% on energy costs compared to producing new cans from raw materials. This means that recycling just one tonne of aluminium can save almost 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions–the equivalent of taking four cars off the road for a year!
So next time you’re about to throw away an empty can, remember that recycling it will save energy, conserve resources, and help to reduce carbon emissions.
Top Tips to Recycle More
The UK recycles around 44% of waste which means that a lot of waste is ending up in landfill and harming the environment.
There are some simple things that everyone can do to recycle more and reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill. Here are our top tips:
- Check what can be recycled. Before you put something in the recycling bin, check whether it can actually be recycled. There are many items that cannot be recycled, such as food waste, many film lids and plastic bags. If in doubt, check with your local authority or visit the Recycle Now website for more information.
- Rinse out food containers. Make sure that all food containers, such as tins and cans, are rinsed out before you put them in the recycling bin. This will make it easier for them to be recycled and will reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill.
- Recycle more than just paper and plastic. There are many other materials that can be recycled, such as glass, metal, and textiles. If you’re not sure whether something can be recycled, check with your local authority or visit Recycle Now‘s website for more information.
- Reduce your packaging waste. One of the best ways to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill is to reduce your packaging waste. Where possible, choose products with less packaging or choose reusable packaging options.
- Donate unwanted items. Instead of throwing away unwanted items, consider donating them to charity shops or other organisations. This will help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and will also help those in need.
By following these simple tips, everyone can make a difference and help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
How Budget Skips Can Help You with Your Recycling Goals
Enlisting the help of Budget Skips in Worcestershire, UK is a great way to help you achieve your recycling goals. They can provide you with a convenient and affordable way to recycle your waste.
Budget Skips helps you save money on your waste disposal costs, and they can also help you reduce your environmental impact as you increase your recycling rates.
If you are looking for a convenient and affordable way to recycle your waste, then Budget Skips in Worcestershire, UK may be the perfect solution for you. Contact us today.