Aluminium is one of the metals whose demand has been growing steadily over the years. The great thing about the recycling process is that it is a closed-loop process whereby beverage cans are recycled and used for the manufacture of new beverage cans. Sadly, there are still people who do not understand the environmental benefits gained from aluminium recycling. Here is what you need to understand the steps followed in aluminium recycling, and how it benefits the environment. 

Collection

The first step in the process is collecting cans from recycling centres. The centres are given the responsibility to get all the used cans from homes and other business establishments. They do so by disbursing recycling bins and collecting them after an appropriate interval when enough has been received to be taken back to the centre. When all the aluminium from the localities have been brought in, the collection centre compresses it into bales, which will then be shipped to smelting companies. 

The shredding and rolling process

Once the condensed cans get to the smelting companies, they are shredded, crushed and have all dyes removed from them. Ideally, the cans are shredded into potato crisp sizes. The chips are then loaded onto furnaces where they are melted and blended with brand new aluminium. The resulting molten product is then converted into ingots. The ingots are directed into rolling mills where they will be pressed down to the thickness of about a millimetre or less.

Coiling and shipping

This is the last step in the process. The now solidified sheets of aluminium are taken through rollers which coil them into cans. The cans are delivered to different beverage companies for refilling. Logos and other artwork is spray-painted or displayed on the cans by the different companies. The newly recycled cans make their way back to the shelves in as little as two months.

When you recycle aluminium, you are reducing the carbon footprint being left on the planet by reducing the amount of energy needed to manufacture metal and minimising the amount of aluminium ore that has to be depleted so that you can enjoy your favourite soda. In addition to this, you will be creating jobs for countless people involved in every stage of the recycling process, and preventing littering of the environment with the non-biodegradable metal. It is, therefore, good to always ensure that once you are done with your soda can, you have put it in the bin which says recycle. 

For more information, contact a company like Metal Merchants today.