In the little more than a century of its first commercial production, aluminium has become the second most used metal in the world after steel. The annual primary production of aluminium in 2006 was around 34 million tonnes and recycling production only 16 million tonnes. Aluminium is a unique metal; strong, durable, flexible, impermeable, light weight and it does not rust. But the most important thing about this distinctive resource is it's 100% recyclable. Aluminium can be melted and reset repeatedly without diminishing in quality.
While most of us may only notice aluminium when sipping soda from a can, many other uses of aluminium are prominent throughout the world. About 900,000 tonnes of aluminium are used in the UK each year and only about a fifth of that amount is used to create drink cans, aerosols, yoghurt tops and foil trays.
Some 89,000 tonnes goes annually to the production of drink cans, while the average household in the UK drinks about 208 cans per year. Norway recycles 93% of their aluminium intake, and Switzerland and Finland aren't far behind with an average recycling rate of 88%. This leaves the UK in the dust with a measly 48% recycled aluminium average.
According to the International Aluminium Institute, every tonne of Aluminium processed from primary ore emits 1.7 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere and two tonnes of CO2 from perflurocarbons (extremely potent greenhouse gases with a lifespan up to 50,000 years). To put this into perspective, it means that simply by putting aluminium cans in the rubbish bin instead of the recycling, we produce 162,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere.
Aluminium is one of the most reusable metals in the world. It lasts forever if it is used properly. The 52% of aluminium that we fail to recycle each year could be re-melted, refilled and put back on the shelves of supermarkets within six weeks.
If helping to achieve a sustainable environment is not enough incentive to recycle, you can get cash for your cans at centres across the UK. Find a centre near you on the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation website.
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This post was written by Christine Pinella on February 15, 2008