A few weeks ago on a previous blog post, I questioned the practice by some non-profit organizations to recycle only the tabs of beverage cans rather than the whole can. The New York Times reported in one of their blogs a related article about can recycling.
In their article, The New York Times describes the aluminum used in the can bottom as being different than the can top. The recycling of the whole can changes the material so that the melted down material is not suitable for producing either the bottom of the tops of cans. I would have to expect that the can tab is of the same material as the top of the can for greater strength, however, I have not been able to verify that. But this blog is not about the details of the aluminum. This blog is about the practicality of being green and trying to find the best ways to participate within our abilities and budgets.
The exciting thing reported in this article, is that Novelis is a company that is making headway in the making the recycling of aluminum more feasible and productive by finding ways to use more recycled aluminum in creating various aluminum products and with less energy. The company website has some great information about the progress they are making and how they intend to raise the recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans from the current 54 percent to 75 percent in the United States by 2015. Globally the recycle rate is 70 percent according to Novelis.
My original posts asked the question if it was best overall to tear off the tabs of the aluminum beverage cans and recycle only that portion of the can with a great profit. Is there a greater cost to me or to the collection organizations in accumulating the whole can rather than just the tabs? If companies like Novelis are finding success in efficient recycling, I can only suggest that I will be recycling my whole aluminum can rather than just the tabs. That will be my part in raising the recycle rate up to 75 percent. Based on the information on this company's website, aluminum recycling is of great value in multiple products and can be made more efficient. That sounds like we could all benefit from recycling beverage cans.
In addition to improving the recycling process, Novellis and Alcoa have joined together to create a new company Evermore Recycling to improve the efficiency of collecting the aluminum cans being supplied to processors. Maybe the nonprofit organizations recycling only the tabs, should consider contacting Evermore Recycling to find ways to efficiently recycle the whole can. It's possible that efficiencies being created by Evermore would remove the barriers previously faced and still provide equal or better financial benefit to the non-profits and civic organizations collecting aluminum.
As always, this creates a few additional questions for me. Please let us know if you have additional information or comments.
Questions about aluminum recycling:
1) Does the same recycle rate apply to other aluminum cans, such as canned meat or some pet foods?
2) Are all or most cans, aluminum or steel or other(?) recycled efficiently?
3) Why is the United States recycle rate so much lower than the global rate?
My benefits to recycling aluminum:
a) Raising the recycle rate could reduce costs for aluminum in all products.
b) Recycling is more energy efficient for the environment overall
My costs to recycling aluminum:
a) Separating them to recycle trash has little or no costs since my city picks up the items for recycling and there is no additional effort on my part.
b) Even if I have to take the cans somewhere to be recycled, if this location is in the normal path of my travels, there is still little or no additional costs.
Grade for Aluminum Recycling:
1) Reasonable costs to the consumer: Definitely
2) Beneficial to the individual consumer: Definitely
3) Beneficial to the overall Environment: Definitely
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