That you buy soda in a can, a six-pack of beer cans in foil because it keeps cold longer, and food in a can because it’s easier to prepare. In recent years, canned foods and beverages have become popular because of their portability and the specific flavor of some drinks.
However, they have become as popular as they have become problematic: it is estimated that around 80 billion beverage cans are thrown away each year worldwide. The good news is that it’s 100% recyclable, although only 65% of it is recycled. And you don’t have to go to a fund or factory to drop them off for recycling; you can also do it yourself.
Why aluminum cans are recyclable
Recycling is the processing or turning waste into raw materials. The main advantage of this process is the reuse, i.e. saving of raw materials. In addition, fewer pollutants are produced and, in theory, production costs are reduced. Recycling is part of the three principles of reduction, reuse and recycling, which are fundamental principles of environmental protection.
Case in point, aluminum is a lightweight metal that is present in our lives in many ways, from packaging and building materials to the production of vehicles. Its properties make it a multifunctional material, and by recycling it we can produce new products from it, such as airplanes, cars or aluminum bottles.
This is why one of the advantages of aluminum is its ease of recycling, which directly benefits the environment and the economy. Its recycling contributes to revaluation because recycled aluminum can be reused. We see this at the industrial level, in the manufacturing of products, and at the household level, for various household needs.
How to reuse aluminum cans at home
As we said before, we don’t need to be experts to recycle aluminum. In fact, all it takes is a little imagination to see what you can do with aluminum cans, and we’re sure you’ve already seen or even implemented many of these options. Having said that, the most common ways to recycle them at home are :
- Making flower pots: the easiest way is to wash the cans, make holes in the bottom to filter water and place plants inside along with soil.
- Candle holders and lamps: if you don’t know how to decorate your home, make candle holders or pretty lamps. Make small holes with a nail according to your sketch and place an LED lamp or candle in them to light up your living room or hallway.
- Wind music: group cans of different sizes, paint them to your liking, make a hole in the bottom of an empty can, tie a string to it, group them together and hang them in your favorite place.
- For bird feeder lovers: spring has arrived, it’s warm, and it never hurts to make something for the birds in town. Make holes in the top of a jar large enough to thread a string or wire through, fill it with bird food and hang it on a tree or fence.
- For pencil or spoon holders: If you hate the mess of spoons in your kitchen or pencils on your desk, paint a tin can to your liking and use it as a pencil or spoon holder.
- Sell them: collect a kilogram of tins and sell them. This will not make you rich, but it will help you earn extra money.
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