The flowchart illustrates the stages involved in the recycling process of aluminium cans.
Overall, the process consists of six main steps, beginning with the collection of used cans and ending with their reuse as new products. Recycling plays a significant role in reducing waste, with 74% of aluminium cans in the UK being reused.
In the first stage, aluminium cans are collected from recycling bins before being taken to a plant. There, they undergo cleaning, sorting, shredding and compression to prepare the material for further treatment. Following this, the compressed cans are heated at high temperatures to melt the aluminium.
Once the aluminium is melted, it is rolled into sheets ranging between 2.5 mm and 6 mm in thickness. These sheets are then supplied to manufacturers for recycling into new cans and other products. Finally, the recycled cans are reused by consumers, which completes the cycle.
In summary, aluminium can recycling is a circular process that transforms discarded items into new products, thereby minimising waste and conserving resources.
