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How Is Aluminium Recycled?

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Quick Answer

Used aluminium is shredded, cleaned, melted and cast into new metal, using about 95% less energy than making aluminium from ore.

The Full Story

Collected cans and scrap are sorted, often using magnets to remove steel and eddy currents to separate aluminium. The metal is shredded and heated to remove coatings and paint. It is then melted in furnaces at around 700 degrees Celsius and cast into large ingots. The ingots are rolled into sheets to make new cans and other products. Because aluminium does not lose quality when melted, it can be recycled endlessly, and a recycled can may be back on a shelf in about 60 days.

Key Facts

1.Around 75% of all aluminium ever produced is estimated to still be in use.
2.Making new aluminium from bauxite ore requires huge amounts of electricity for smelting.
3.The eddy current separator uses spinning magnets to fling aluminium away from other waste.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"From bin to shelf in 60 days: the aluminium can's endless loop."

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