The flow diagram in flowchart illustrates the various stages involved in the process of recycling used beverage cans, from initial collection to retail.
Overall, it is a linear, multi-stage circular process consisting of nine distinct steps. The cycle begins with the collection of discarded cans and culminates in the distribution of newly packaged cans back into the market, ready for consumption.
In the initial stage, used cans are disposed of in a designated recycling bin. From there, they are transported to a recycling factory. Upon arrival, the cans are placed onto a conveyor belt where they undergo a cleaning process, utilizing overhead sprays to remove impurities.
Following this, the cleaned cans enter a melting phase inside a high-temperature furnace. The liquid metal is then poured into a cylinder-shaped mould to cool down and solidify. Once cooled, the blocks of metal move into the processing phase, where they are transformed back into usable canning materials.
In the final sequence of the process, new, empty cans are formed during the canning stage. These containers are subsequently moved along another conveyor belt to the filling station, where they are filled with beverages. Lastly, the finished products are organized into boxes for storage and final delivery to stores for selling, effectively restarting the consumption and recycling loop.