Recycling+Aluminum

// Recycling Aluminum By: Matt Kohls //

__**WHY RECYCLE?**__

Why would we ever recycle aluminum? Well for one it cost more money to make new aluminum then using the recycled aluminum and also it uses much more energy to create a new can. Did you know if you recycle one aluminum can it can creates enough electricity to run your T.V. for 3-4 hours (1). Now imagine how much energy would be saved from one whole month of recycling. So think about it, why don't YOU recycle?

__**ALUMINUM FACTS**__ It's hard to believe, but 20 years ago 1 pound of aluminum made about 20 aluminum cans, now it can make 30. That shows that the manufactures are working to save recsoures, but now you have to do your part. Aluminum is a great thing to start recycling because it is cheap and easy. It also saves a lot of energy. About 350,000 cans are made per minute (1) and only 65-70% of them are being recycled. This seems like a lot but still millions of cans are being thrown away (1).

1. The products in the recycling bins are brought to a plant. 2. At the plant, the aluminum is made into slabs. 3. The aluminum slabs are sent to an aluminum company where the labels of the cans are removed. 4. The slabs are then recycled and crushed. 5. When the new aluminum product is made, about 50% of it is new aluminum and 50% recycled aluminum (2). Did You Know **
 * __RECYCLING PROCESS__**
 * [[image:http://www.westboylston.com/Pages/WBoylstonMA_BComm/swatdir/020CF923-000F8513.2/recycled%20metal%20image.jpg width="221" height="171"]] media type="custom" key="5709753" width="206" height="148"
 * Did you know that in 2004 Americans recycled enough aluminum to make 13 aircraft carriers (1).
 * Aluminum can be recycled as many times as possible and will never lose its properties (1).
 * Aluminum is so energy efficient to recycle that one can being recycled rather than made from scratch, saves enough energy to power a T.V. for 3-4 hours (1).

1) Recycling aluminum cans. 2007. Aluminum Recycling Facts. 12 March 2010 <[]> . 2) Aluminum recycling process. Aluminum recycling process. Mar 12 <[]> Picture: recycled. <[]>