Aluminum is one of the major types of products recycled in North America each year. Aluminum is used to make cans, foil, and other items such as trays. Americans recycle approximately 65-70% of the aluminum used in household products each year. However, hundreds of thousands of tons of aluminum products are being thrown away each year.

When most people think about recycling aluminum, they think of pop cans. But you can actually recycle other products such as lawn furniture and anything else made from aluminum. If you have an item that you would like to recycle, but are unsure if it is recyclable, contact your local recycling depot.

Aluminum recycling is actually an interesting process. First the items are collected from the different recycling centers and transported to a scrap metal plant.

There is a requirement to sort out this aluminium stuff. Once sorted out they are compressed in to blocks. From here these blocks are sent to various aluminium companies. The existing labels and coatings are taken care of in the aluminium company.

Once at the aluminum company the slabs are shredded and crushed. During this process any labels, coating, etc is removed. The shredded aluminum is then melted with new aluminum. Most aluminum products that we buy have approximately 50% recycled product in them.

Aluminum can be formed into any shape once it's been melted. The process differs according to product, but in general it sounds pretty easy, doesn't it?

As aluminum is the most common metal on the planet, why do we bother recycling it? We aren't going to run out of it for eons, but using new product is actually more energy consuming. Another issue is the waste factor.

A large amount of waste is being produced in North America. They are being put in landfill sites. Landfill sites are difficult to find and it is getting increasingly difficult to dispose our waste. Apart from this the waste is harmful to the flora and fauna in the area of the landfill.

To get more people to recycle aluminum, companies might consider deposits. When we buy a can, we usually are paying a deposit built into its price. If we want that deposit back, we must return the can. It then enters the cycle of going to a recycling center and then on to be processed.

Recycling is good for everybody as it lessens waste accumulation, saves energy, and creates jobs. A lot of people are more environmentally conscious than ever before, but there are still a number of them who don't think about it or decide it's too much trouble. They are still just tossing used aluminum cans and other recyclables.

In case there is no recycling program in your locality then it is a good idea to start an environmental group and take up aluminium recycling as a start up scheme. Once you do that you will notice that many people and local businesses are interested in the project.