| cans use 100 million steel cans and 200 million | | | | From there, the aluminum is made into new cans and |
| aluminum beverages cans every day, according to | | | | the cycle begins again. |
| the National Energy Education Development Project. | | | | Recycling Steel |
| Without metal recycling, the country might be afloat | | | | Steel is the most recycled material in the United |
| in metal. The choices seem simple: The metal can be | | | | States. It dominates the recycling industry because it |
| burned in waste-to-energy plants, dumped in a landfill, | | | | exists in endless amounts of steel scrap from cars, |
| or recycled. Of the three choices, recycling is | | | | appliances, and torn-down buildings and bridges. |
| recognized as the most efficient way to reduce | | | | Because recycled steel takes 60 percent less energy |
| aluminum and steel waste. | | | | to make than iron ore, nearly all of today's steel |
| Aluminum and Steel Recycling | | | | products are made with some recycled steel. |
| Unlike copper, iron and other common metals, | | | | Steel can recycling follows almost the same process |
| aluminum only exists in combination with other | | | | as aluminum can recycling. Once steel scrap is |
| elements. When aluminum is combined at a reduction | | | | collected from homes, recycling centers, or |
| plant or smelter, it forms an extremely hard material | | | | waste-to-energy plants it is shipped to a scrap |
| known as alumina. It is then dissolved in a liquid salt | | | | processor or dealer. |
| (or molten) in large pots. A powerful current is run | | | | The steel scrap is melted in a furnace and then |
| through the liquid which separates the aluminum from | | | | poured into casters that continuously roll and flatten |
| the oxygen as the molten aluminum sinks to the | | | | the steel into sheets. Recycled steel is made into an |
| bottom of a pot. The whole reduction process | | | | endless array of products, such as new cars, girders |
| involves a large amount of electrical energy. | | | | for buildings, or food cans. In the U.S., steel cans and |
| Making aluminum from recycled aluminum scrap, on | | | | other steel products contain at least 25 percent |
| the other hand, takes much less energy. In fact, | | | | recycled steel, with some containing nearly 100 |
| recycling four aluminum cans saves as much energy | | | | percent recycled steel. |
| as the energy in one cup of gasoline, according to | | | | To determine if a can is made of steel or aluminum, |
| the National Energy Education Development Project. | | | | take a separate magnet to each item. Steel will |
| This decrease in energy gives aluminum items their | | | | immediately attract to the magnet while aluminum will |
| high scrap value. Aluminum manufacturers save both | | | | not. Steel recyclers may accept cans containing both |
| energy and money by using recycled aluminum. | | | | steel and aluminum. Aluminum recyclers, however, |
| Recycling Aluminum | | | | may limit their acceptance to only 100 percent |
| The cycle for recycled aluminum begins as cans are | | | | aluminum cans. |
| taken by consumers to a scrap company or grocery | | | | The recycling of aluminum and steel is a process that |
| store. From there, it moves on to a recycling plant. | | | | can occur again and again. Both do not lose their |
| Here, the aluminum is shredded and melted where it | | | | strength or quality during the method of recycling. |
| becomes an ingot, or molten aluminum. These ingots | | | | This never-ending process continues to save energy |
| are fashioned into aluminum sheets or other forms. | | | | and resources. |