Aluminum Can Recycling

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Written By Ryan

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Aluminum cans are the most recycled drink containers in the United States. In 2013, 1.72 billion lbs., roughly 60.2 billion cans were recycled. That is a recycling rate of nearly 70%. The energy saved by this kind of recycling equals approximately 19 million barrels of crude oil. The fantastic benefits of this are the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and the reduction of landfill mass. It is undoubtedly one of the most sustainable metals in the world.

It generates the most money for the consumer who bothers to take it to an aluminum recycling center near them. When searching for a can recycling center near you, find a facility offering the highest payout per pound. You can try looking on the local facility’s website to see if they have advertised their payout price.

Locate The Closest Aluminum Can Recycle Center In Your Area

What makes aluminum cans unique is that they are often recycled back into themselves, containing nearly 70% recycled material. That is 3 times more than plastic or glass. This translates into the cans leaving a good environmental footprint. It also has a high value for re-selling, making recycling programs possible. Scrap aluminum gets $2600 per ton compared to plastic, which only gets $310, and glass gets $10-$100 per ton, depending on purity and color. Cans are also getting lighter while continuing to stay durable. This leads to better efficiency for shipping and, eventually, less waste.

Aluminum can recycling has grown consistently since the early 2000’s. Every year, close to 40 billion cans end up in landfills. That’s $800 million worth of aluminum. This is catastrophic to the environment and economy. Using recycled aluminum to make a can saves 92% of the energy needed to create a new one. Millions of homes could be powered for an entire year using that saved energy.

Highest Payout For Can Recycling Nearby

The increase in the recycling of aluminum cans can be attributed to the addition of imported cans. This is perpetuated by the cans’ closed-loop aspect, being able to be recycled back into themselves. Imported cans cross the border from Canada and Mexico, and some come from Poland and Saudi Arabia. In 2012, nearly 13 billion cans came from the imported industry, nearly double from just five years ago. The increased rate of aluminum can recycling is parallel to the growth of the scrap recycling industry. The US scrap recycling industry expanded from $54 billion in sales in 2009 to over $90 billion in 2012. Perhaps it is because it takes only 5% of the energy to produce recycled aluminum rather than primary aluminum.

Whatever the reason for increased aluminum can recycling, the benefits are incredible to the environment and economy. Hopefully, this will continue, as it is imperative to lower the amount that goes into landfills yearly. As humans, we should do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint and leave our future generations a planet that is not filled with tons of trash when it could be recycled. It’s a simple process to start recycling your aluminum cans, which is only one part of the bigger picture. It should be every person’s responsibility to play their role in creating less waste for our children and our children’s children. Go out and find an aluminum can recycling center near you.

How to Recycle Aluminum Cans

The process couldn’t be much easier when it comes to aluminum can recycling. Not only do many municipalities offer curbside pick-up, but because aluminum recycling is one of the most valuable forms of scrap that recycling centers might deal with, rarely, a recycling center won’t accept aluminum.

Let’s look at each of your options for aluminum can recycling:

  1. Putting your cans out for curbside pickup
  2. Take your aluminum cans to a recycling center
  3. Donate your aluminum cans to a school or charity

Depending on where you live, one, two, or all three options may apply to you and your aluminum cans. However, a few steps will apply no matter which of the three options you choose, so let’s talk about those steps first.

Start by rinsing your aluminum cans before setting them aside wherever you store your recyclables. For most cans, simply rinsing them a few times with hot water will be enough to remove any residue; for sticky or otherwise extraordinarily messy cans, however, you may need to let them soak full of hot water. Cleaning your cans to remove any residue helps eliminate odors, lessening the likelihood of bugs or other pests in your recycling. If you don’t have the time to rinse each can, then at least pour out all remaining liquid.

While you no longer are required to crush your aluminum cans before recycling, it can still be a good idea if it helps you save space in your recycling area. And about that recycling area: You should have designated space for your aluminum cans so that when it’s time to put them out for curbside collection, take them to a recycling center, or drop them off for a local school or charity fundraiser, you can do so in an organized manner. If you have a designated recycling container provided by your municipality, great, but if not, it’s easy enough to set aside a large plastic tote, for instance.

Finally, determine the best way to ensure your aluminum can recycling is easily picked up (for instance, which day is your curbside pickup, or when are the best times to take your recyclables to a local recycling center). Make it part of your regular weekly routine so that recycling your cans becomes a habit.

A few other things to consider: If you live in one of the 10 states with a bottle bill, you can take your aluminum cans to a recycling center for cash, generally 5-10 cents per can. That can add up quickly! Those 10 states with bottle bills are California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. Just make sure that if this is an option in which you are interested, you do your homework; each state may have its own restrictions. And if you live in a different country, check your local rules and programs—there may still be a way to recycle your aluminum for cash.

Finally, a word of caution: Use caution when sorting through and cleaning your aluminum cans, as the rough edges can easily cut your skin.

Should Aluminum Cans Be Crushed Before Recycling?

It used to be that aluminum cans needed to be crushed before they could be recycled. That’s no longer the case. However, you may still wish to crush your aluminum cans for simple space considerations.

pile of crushed aluminum cans

Especially if you recycle larger quantities of aluminum cans, those cans can take up a significant amount of space rather quickly. Beyond that, it can get a little more complicated, depending on how you recycle your cans.

For multiple-stream recycling, for instance, where everything is already separated, crushed cans can help save space and make transporting recyclable materials more efficient. For single-stream recycling, however, where recyclables are separated at a Materials Recovery Facility, aluminum cans should not be crushed because it’s easier for the sorting machinery to sort out intact cans.

In general, it’s far more important that you recycle aluminum cans than whether or not you are crushing them, considering that 40 billion cans end up in landfills each year.

What Aluminum Can Be Recycled?

This may depend on your local recycling program. In general, nearly every recycling program will take aluminum cans. Many other aluminum products, however, can also generally be recycled. It just depends on what the recycling program is.

For instance, many curbside recycling programs will accept most household aluminum beverage and food products provided they are clean, including aluminum cans, aluminum foil, aluminum baking trays, and even aluminum pie pans.

Industries that use aluminum may have their own programs. For instance, construction contractors frequently use aluminum, whether in siding, gutters, or cables; contractors may have recycling programs if working on a large enough scale, or they may work with scrap yards that take their aluminum. Similarly, many automotive parts are collected for recycling when replaced; individual shops may have in-house recycling programs (if they’re part of a more extensive network of shops) or work with scrap yards. More than 90 percent of aluminum used in building and automotive industries is recycled at the end of its use, serving as feedstock that is then melted down by aluminum recyclers to be used in the secondary production process.

Why Is Aluminum So Easily Recycled?

Aluminum cans are quite possibly the most easily recycled recyclable in the United States and the most valuable beverage container for recycling. Over $800 million is paid out for aluminum cans each year. A huge part of why so much is paid out is because aluminum cans are 100% recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely. It is currently cheaper, faster, and more energy-efficient to recycle aluminum cans than ever!

As a result, nearly a third of all aluminum used in the United States is derived from recycled materials. Not only is aluminum the most abundant metal on earth but an average of more than 100,000 aluminum cans are recycled every minute.

When it comes to easily recycling aluminum cans, consider these 10 aluminum can recycling tips:

10 Tips for Aluminum Can Recycling

  1. Rinse and drain the aluminum cans. If your cans aren’t clean, they can attract insects and pests. Instead, store them clean and dry.
  2. Consider crushing your cans to save space. The one exception may be if you are taking your cans to a multiple-stream facility. Still, it may be worth considering how much space you can save in your vehicle if you crush cans before hauling them.
  3. If you collect cans to recycle them, exercise caution. While aluminum cans can readily be found in trash cans or on the side of the road, making them a relatively easy revenue source if you’re recycling for cash, you can also easily cut yourself on the sharp edges. As a result, it’s in your best interests to use gloves or tools that can protect your hands.
  4. Keep your cans clean. If you use your cans for ashtrays, it can be harder to recycle later.
  5. Separate your aluminum cans from other recyclables. This is especially true in states with bottle bills. 
  6. In bottle bill states, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont, keep your aluminum cans separate so you can take them somewhere. At 5-10 cents each, returning your aluminum cans for the deposit can quickly add up to a significant total.
  7. If you live in a bottle bill state (or close enough to a bottle bill state to make driving to one worth it), find a facility that will both take your aluminum cans and pay for them. As noted previously, at 5-10 cents each, returning your aluminum cans for the deposit can add up to a significant total.
  8. If you don’t live in a bottle bill state, it may still be worth calling local scrap yards and asking what they pay for aluminum. Another benefit of working with scrap yards is getting cash for items besides aluminum cans. You’ll need to clarify with each scrap yard what aluminum (and other metals) they’ll pay for and at what rates. This can be another way to make some cash.
  9. Because aluminum can be recycled forever, it has excellent recycling potential. And while cans generally get recycled back into cans, aluminum cans (and other aluminum products) eventually have to be downcycled, which means that the higher grade aluminum you have, the more valuable it can be. 
  10. Consider other aluminum you might have that scrap yards might be willing to pay for, including automotive parts, siding, gutters, and more. Remember that every state and municipality may have different laws about what materials you can scrap, so check regulations first. (For instance, some places say automotive parts can only be scrapped by auto shops.)

Can Aluminum Be Recycled Indefinitely?

Yes. While aluminum eventually has to be downcycled, the truth is it can be recycled over and over and over again. Most high-grade aluminum can be recycled back into high-grade aluminum for a bit before it works its way down to aluminum cans, and aluminum cans can be recycled back into aluminum cans (which can be turned around in 60 days or less).

aluminum recycling fact. An aluminum can that is recycled can be back on grocery shelves in 60 days or less.

Eventually, the aluminum needs to be mixed with higher-grade aluminum or bits of fresh aluminum during the recycling process. Still, the truth is that aluminum really can be recycled indefinitely. Roughly a third of all aluminum in use today comes from recycled aluminum; in some industries (such as construction and automotive), up to 90% of all aluminum gets recycled.

Recycling Cans for Money

Even better, aluminum cans can quite readily be recycled for money. If you live in a bottle-bill state – California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont – you can pretty quickly return aluminum cans for a deposit of 5-10 cents each. Even if you don’t live in a bottle bill state, scrap yards may be willing to buy your aluminum from you. As a result, it’s often well worth making a few phone calls to determine what forms of aluminum your local scrap yards accept, what rates they pay, and how long they are willing to honor that rate.

How Much Are Aluminum Cans Worth?

In bottle bill states, it can be easy to determine exactly what each can is worth. All you need to do is look up the deposit in that state, and voila, you know exactly how much your aluminum cans are worth, whether that’s 5 or 10 cents each.

In other places, however, it depends on your local scrap yards and their rates. Additionally, most scrap yards pay by the pound, so you’ll need to know how much your cans weigh (depending on the cans, it may be anywhere between 20-40 cans per pound; newer cans are generally lighter than older cans) or regularly weigh your aluminum recycling container, remembering to tare out the weight of the container itself.

While prices at scrap yards vary, a good ballpark to keep in mind is between 40-50 cents per pound for aluminum cans. If you figure 30 cans to a pound and 50 cents per pound, that works out to 1.6 cents per can. While that isn’t much, it can still add up. So if you’re someone who goes through a lot of aluminum cans or, even better, works somewhere where you have access to a great deal of aluminum can recycling, this adds up over time.

How Much Is a Pound of Aluminum Cans Worth?

That depends; older cans are heavier than newer cans, which can make a difference in bottle bill states. For instance, in 1972, it took roughly 22 empty aluminum cans to weigh one pound; in 2002, it took 34 empties to add up to a pound. Newer cans may be lighter, yet; for argument’s sake, let’s assume that even with the lightest aluminum cans, 40 empties will make a pound of cans.

As a result, if you live in a bottle bill state, you could make as much as $4.00 per pound (40 aluminum cans at 10 cents per can) and generally count on at least a dollar or two per pound. You can still sell aluminum cans at scrap yards if you don’t live in a bottle-bill state or live close enough to drive to one reasonably. Most scrap yards offer between 40 and 50 cents per pound of aluminum, which can still add up.

Where Can I Take My Aluminum Cans for Cash?

If you live in a bottle bill state, you should readily be able to find a collection center; taking your aluminum cans to a location where they’ll give you a cash deposit back on those cans is the best way to make money on aluminum can recycling.

If you don’t live in a bottle bill state, it’s still worth calling your local scrap yards and asking what rates they pay for aluminum cans. If you have recycling aluminum cans for your local scrap yard with enough regularity, even 40 cents per pound can add up over time.

Where Can I Recycle Aluminum Cans Near Me?

Plenty of apps and search functions can help you find the best prices near you for aluminum can recycling. One of our favorites is the iScrap app.

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