Facts About Aluminium

Aluminium is a naturally occurring silvery metal that is used to make all sorts of things from cars to street lighting poles and variety of everyday items such as aluminium foil and cans. It is the most abundant of all metals and is found all over the world but most of it comes from Australia, West Indies and West Africa. Despite the fact that it is the most abundant metal, it is very important to separate aluminium products from the rest of waste in order for it to be collected and recycled.

Here are some interesting facts you may not know about aluminium and why it is one of the most important recyclables:

Mining for bauxite ore from which aluminium is extracted is harming the environment.
More than 60 tonnes of aluminium cans is used in Britain each year.
We use over 1 tonne of aluminium foil each year
95% less energy is needed to made new aluminium cans from recycled aluminium than from raw material.
Energy that is saved from just one recycled aluminium can is enough to run your TV for three hours.
Energy that is saved from just one recycled aluminium can is enough to burn a 100-watt light bulb about four hours.
Making cans from recycled aluminium causes 95% less air pollution than making cans from raw material.
Recycled aluminium foil can be used to make vehicle parts.
Recycled aluminium cans can be used to make new cans.
Recycled aluminium cans are back on the shelves as new cans in just 60 days.
Aluminium can be recycled again and again indefinitely.
Even though the amount of recovered and recycled aluminium is growing, more than £30 million is thrown away each year.

To sum up, recycling aluminium is good for the environment, for the communities and for the economy. So be sure to separate aluminium cans and aluminium foil from the rest of waste and put them in metal recycling bin at your local recycling bank.

Remember that there mustn’t be any food leftovers. Not only they create an unpleasant odour but they also interfere with the process of recycling. So rinse or wash the cans and foil before throwing them in recycling bin.