Aluminum is a durable, renewable resource, which makes it an excellent material for everything from beverage cans to luxury car rims. Unfortunately, a large portion of the aluminum produced in the U.S. does not make it into the recycling bin. Estimates suggest that Americans recycle only about 50% of total aluminum cans sold, which hovers somewhere around 65 billion. Meanwhile, the cans that accumulate in landfills take a serious toll on the environment.

Why Recycle Aluminum?

While recycling aluminum produces relatively low greenhouse gas emissions, the same cannot be said for the manufacturing process. Mining, smelting, and refining primary aluminum sources emits about .4 billion tons of CO2 emissions annually. Meanwhile, recycling it emits just 5% of the emissions that manufacturing it would.

When you recycle, you help lower the demand for new aluminum production, which consequently helps lower emissions across the board. And as you probably know, CO2 helps trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere, which causes global warming. This harms entire ecosystems, from plants and ocean life to humans and other mammals. To protect the natural environment and future generations, people must take action today. 

Plus, when you send your aluminum cans to the landfill, they continue to emit greenhouse gases as the material slowly decomposes alongside other rotting junk. The chemicals released by this process seep into the air and nearby water supplies, harming wildlife and local communities. When you recycle them, they can be reused and enjoyed for centuries to come.

Protect the environment by recycling your aluminum cans and scrap. The friendly team from David Hirschberg Steel & Recycling Center in Cincinnati, OH, would love to take your cans, car parts, and other scrap metal off your hands. Plus, they’ll even pay you for it. Why not earn money while helping the earth? To learn more, visit the recycling center online today. You may also call a helpful representative at 513-821-0514.