The diagram illustrates the process of recycling aluminium cans over a six-week period.
Overall, the recycling of aluminium cans is a cyclical process that consists of 11 stages. It begins with the collection and cleaning of used cans and ends with the production of new cans that are ready to be reused by factories.
At the first stage, discarded aluminium cans are gathered and transported to a recycling plant. There, they are thoroughly rinsed with water to remove any dirt or impurities. Next, the clean cans are crushed into small pieces, after which they undergo chemical treatment to prepare the metal for further processing.
Following this, the treated aluminium is melted in a furnace at a specific temperature to obtain a liquid form of metal. The molten aluminium is then poured into moulds shaped like cans. After cooling, these moulds are placed under a pressing machine that ensures the metal takes the exact shape and thickness required for new cans.
In the final stages, the newly formed aluminium cans are rolled, polished, and inspected to confirm their quality. Once this is completed, they are ready to be filled and distributed to factories for reuse. The entire recycling process takes approximately six weeks to complete.