Aluminum Beverage Cans
What Should I Do With It?
Aluminum beverage cans, such as those used for soda or beer, are widely accepted in almost all curbside recycling programs. However, you should leave the pull tabs attached to the can, as loose, detached tabs are too small to make it through the automated sorting process. To prevent contamination in your bin, always give your cans a quick rinse to clear out any remaining liquid before recycling them. Aluminum is an incredibly sustainable packaging material because it can be recycled infinitely without losing its quality, unlike plastic. Despite this, only about 16% of aluminum cans are actually recycled in the United States, which sends hundreds of millions of dollars worth of valuable metal to landfills every year.
Before throwing this away, see if it can be fixed up, given to a friend, or donated to a local thrift shop. Keeping items in use is the best way to stop waste before it starts!
The recycling guidelines shown here are for general reference and educational purposes. Every city and town has different rules, sorting equipment, and recycling programs.
Please check your local town website or ask your local garbage collection program to make sure you are following your neighborhood's rules.