Recycling aluminum saves natural resources and energy. Recycled aluminum can be used to make bikes, autos, airplanes, boats, computers, and cookware. Aluminum is mostly used to make beverage cans. Aluminum can be recycled indefinitely because it is a sustainable metal. Aluminum cans are the most recycled item in the United States. According to Earth911, 54 billion cans were recycled in 2007 which saved the energy equivalent of 15 million barrels of oil-America’s entire gas consumption for a day.
According to the EPA, recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a 100 watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours, or a TV for 2 hours. A used recycled can be made into a new can in approximately 2 months.
Aluminum cans also can be recycled to raise money for worthy causes. Cans for Causes raises money for Habitat for Humanity, schools, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Lions Club, YMCA’s, PTA’s, and various other organizations. Just think you can recycle and also help out your favorite organization at the same time.
Aluminum foil is a widely used household item. It can be used to wrap you food. Americans recycle 65 to 70% of the aluminum they use in the household. Most of which is aluminum cans. Americans throw away three pounds of aluminum foil every year. It takes almost 400 years for aluminum foil to break down in a landfill.
Keep Going Green!
Lynne
Wow, Lynne, very enlightening. I think we are way behind the US on recycling aluminium her in the UK. We are still only allowed to put cans in our green bin, no foil or other aluminium things.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
I created a recycling center database that has over 15,000 recycling centers across the USA. Check it out here: http://www.green-watch.org/take-action/recycle.cfm
I eventually plan to list all centers across the entire United States.
Great stuff, Green Business.
Send me a 125×125 graphic of your site logo and the url again. I’ll put it up on my site.
Jay Mueller
admin@jaylynne.com