Aluminum Recycling Concerns

Recycling an aluminum can takes 95 percent less energy than making a new can from aluminum ore. Recycled cans also cost less to produce than completely new cans. Although recycling aluminum makes sense in most situations, there some people who have financial, environmental and economic concerns about the process.

Sorting

• Aluminum needs to be sorted and cleaned before processors recycle it.

  Aluminum recycling often takes lots of work in the form of sorting the aluminum. Most recycled aluminum goes towards making new beverage cans, and it needs to be very clean to avoid contaminating drinks. Before processors can melt the metal to recycle it, they must be sure they only have clean, quality aluminum scrap. The sorting process has the economic downside of requiring labor and money, although it requires less labor and money than making new cans from aluminum ore.

Quality Decrease

• Each time aluminum goes through the recycling process, it decreases in quality. The process of melting different pieces of aluminum together and reshaping them to form new products limits the quality, because some of the recycled pieces will not be as high in quality as new aluminum. However, recycled aluminum works well enough to make safe food and beverage cans.

Transportation

• It takes effort and resources to transport aluminum recyclables.

  Collecting and transporting aluminum cans can cost money and release pollutants into the air. People must take cans to a recycling center, or the city must provide recycling pickup services. Switching to a new aluminum recycling system requires adjustments from individuals, businesses and government. However, collecting and transporting aluminum to recycle still uses less energy than making new aluminum products.

Deposit Controversy

• Some consumers do not want to pay a bottle deposit.

  Some states in the U.S. have laws requiring consumers to pay a small, refundable deposit when they purchase products that come in aluminum cans. People can collect their deposits upon recycling the cans. Although the deposits work well as an incentive for recycling, some bottling companies do not want to risk a profit loss as recycling becomes more popular. Some consumers who do not want to recycle get upset at the idea of being forced to pay a deposit on aluminum.

Cleanliness

• To prevent aluminum cans in the recycle bin from smelling bad or attracting rodents and insects, people must take the extra time to rinse them out. Some large aluminum can recycling centers have an unpleasant odor to them, and consumers or recycling centers must put in extra effort to clean cans that will sit around for any significant amount of time.