Recycling Facts

Nearly $1 Billion Paid

Last year, recyclers paid nearly $1 billion for recyclable aluminum beverage cans. But that’s only half the story. Because the national aluminum recycling rate is currently at 51.2%, another $1 billion in recyclable cans end up in landfills annually. That’s like throwing away money…money that could be paid to municipalities…and used to fund other projects and activities.

Aluminum Is 100% Recyclable

Considering that the average American drinks 370 beverages in aluminum cans each year, promoting aluminum recycling makes environmental sense. It also makes sense because nothing recycles quicker. It only takes 60 days to turn the empty cans in your recycling bin into new cans on retailers’ shelves. If enough aluminum beverage cans are recycled, the existing supply of aluminum beverage containers could be virtually self-sustaining!

Recycling Saves Energy

It goes without saying that recycling saves energy. But how much, you wonder. Lots.

Recycling 40 cans saves the equivalent of one gallon in gasoline.