The diagram outlines the stages involved in recycling aluminum cans into reusable material.
Overall, the process consists of six distinct stages, starting with the collection of used aluminum containers and ending with the reuse of 74% of the recycled material in new products.
The process begins with the collection of used aluminum cans from consumers, which are then transported to a recycling facility. At the facility, the cans are cleaned to remove impurities, sorted, shredded into smaller pieces, and then compressed into manageable blocks. In the next stage, the compressed aluminum is heated and melted down to form a liquid state. The melted aluminum is rolled into sheets that range from 2.5mm to 6mm in thickness, making it suitable for reuse. These aluminum sheets are then used to produce new products, such as drink containers or other packaging. Approximately 74% of the recycled aluminum is reused in new products, and once consumed and discarded, the process begins again with collection