Aluminium recycling - how does it happen?
Ecology
20 January 2023
The circular economy is about using new raw materials as little as possible and focusing as much as possible on reusing previously processed ones. Recycling therefore plays an important role in this. One of the most active recycling sectors is aluminium processing. What does the process look like and what impact does it have on the planet?
Aluminium recycling - how many times can it be recycled?
Among the biggest advantages of the aluminium recycling process is the fact that the material can be recycled any number of times. This is due to the properties of aluminium, which ensure that it is durable even after being melted, dyed or shredded several times. In order to recycle as much aluminium as possible, it is important to remember the obligation to separate waste.
In this respect, aluminium is similar to glass, which can also be recycled many times over and is always ready to be used in new products made from the same raw material. Aluminium recycling is mainly the recycling of beverage cans. As a result, the vast majority of the cans available in the shop have already been in use before.
How is aluminium processed?
Recycling aluminium cans and other items made from this raw material has several stages. First, the collected waste is screened to make sure that no other materials have entered it. Next, the aluminium items are shredded and the resulting pieces are cleaned.
It is necessary to remove any unnecessary contamination from the aluminium in order to work on the material itself. The next step is to remove the paints that are used to paint on the cans, e.g. the information about the beverage they contain. The cleaning takes place at very high temperatures, which burns off the superfluous substances.
Once the aluminium has been suitably cleaned, it is again subjected to high thermal treatment. This time, the material is melted and bars are formed from it, which can then be processed into completely new products. The recovery of aluminium is considerably cheaper than the process of producing the raw material.
Environmental impact of aluminium processing
The processing of aluminium and the reuse of this material has a huge impact on the environment. It is a process that is very helpful in combating the climate crisis. The production of this new raw material requires huge amounts of energy or oil, thus directly contributing to interfering with the natural state of the planet.
Recycling reduces energy consumption as well as bauxite. Just one tonne of recycled aluminium is said to save four tonnes of bauxite rock and several hundred kilos of oil. For the environment, piling up rubbish is also quite a threat. A lot of clothes that have never been worn end up in the deserts every day. Thanks to the fact that some materials are recycled, they do not have to be taken to landfill. Aluminium takes several hundred years to decompose.
In addition, recycling aluminium reduces the amount of harmful greenhouse gases that migrate into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. This is because significantly more of them are produced during the production process of this raw material. Recycling also requires less water, which is another argument in its favour.
What is made from recycled cans?
Aluminium recycling - what is produced from recycled aluminium waste? The most common application is for new cans or food packaging. Aluminium material is also used in the automotive or aerospace market to manufacture parts of various machines.
New cables and even works of art are made from recycled raw materials. The electronics industry and many others benefit from this. In addition, workers are needed to recycle materials, so these processes help to reduce unemployment.
Recycling aluminium makes a huge difference every year in terms of keeping the planet out of environmental difficulties. Remember to separate your aluminium packaging and know that every foil or label put in the right bin makes a difference.
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