Guide to Aluminum Recycling

Vital to the environment, aluminum recycling is generally easy to accomplish and you can even be compensated for the effort. Aluminum products can be reused and remade into a number of other products. An aluminum can, on average, can be collected, melted down and manufactured into a brand new can in 90 days. Aluminum is also a fully sustainable metal which means it can be recycled an unlimited number of times.

Don't look to get rich off recycling aluminum. While some aluminum recyclers will pay you for it, the going rate is not much. You may find, however, that it is worthwhile to get compensated for being a good environmental steward.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the national recycling rate is just 30% in the United States. Increasing recycling to 60% could save 315 million barrels of oil per year. Consider this other aluminum recycling information:

1. Aluminum can recycling saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.

2. The aluminum recycling process—making aluminum cans from recycled aluminum instead of its raw material—uses 95% less energy.

3. Top markets for scrap aluminum include the transportation industry, packaging of beverages and building construction materials.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase aluminum recycling equipment to get the job done efficiently

For workplace use, consider purchasing some of the inexpensive aluminum recycling equipment to make the job easier. You may prefer that aluminum cans be crushed to save space.

I recommend: Recy-CAL Supply offers a variety of recycling containers to help with the task of collecting aluminum cans for recycling. Aluminum-Can-Crusher.Com offers a simple contraption to crush your aluminum cans, compressing them down to about 20% of their original size. Applied Recovery Systems provides a selection of briquetting machines that consolidate even the smallest flakes and chips of aluminum scrap for recycling.

Get paid for recycling aluminum

A number of companies will pay you for your recyclable materials, including aluminum cans. Check out how and when they want aluminum delivered, or whether pickup services are available.

I recommend: US Alloy Inc. and Access Ltd. both buy aluminum for recycling purposes. Browse through the other metal products that may be marketable and thus beneficial to collect if readily available at your business.

Stay on top of aluminum recycling prices

Just as with other markets, the going rate for recyclables fluctuates due to supply and demand and the market for reusable materials. Keep informed of the aluminum recycling rate so you can determine a potential refund. This is particularly valuable information if your business is a source of large amounts of aluminum scrap such as old aluminum siding removed by contractors.

I recommend: Automated Recycling offers a current updated price for aluminium cans and also explains the factors that can make the price fluctuate. For large handlers, Commercial Alloys gives rates per metric ton.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Your aluminum recycling center may require you to remove any labels, nails or other non-aluminum materials before recycling. For office recycling of beverage containers, make it a practice to rinse cans before placing them in recycling bins to avoid attracting insects.

The official source of Aluminum Recycling is the Aluminum Recycling page at Business.com