Glasgow Science Centre's Caitlin MacInnes investigates why every can counts when it comes to recycling aluminium.

Aluminium is one of the world’s most abundant elements and is found in rocks, soil, plants, and even in the air. It’s a lightweight metal but it’s strong, doesn’t rust, and is easily moulded into shapes for a wide range of products – from laptops to skyscrapers. And of course, it’s used to make drink cans!

Aluminium cans are endlessly recyclable, no matter their colour, size or shape. They can be recycled with no loss of quality and be back on the shelf as a brand-new can in as little as 60 days! The recycling process is so efficient that 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today.

How are cans recycled?

The UK is the largest beverage can market in Europe, with over 9.7 billion cans produced annually. Glaswegians consume an average of four drinks from aluminium cans each week, with drink cans being amongst the city’s most recycled type of packaging.

The process of recycling aluminium cans can be broken down into different stages: shredding, re-melting, casting, rolling and manufacturing. Flattened and baled cans arrive at the recycling centre and are shredded into small pieces. The shredded pieces of aluminium are heated and blasted with air to remove any decoration before being melted at approximately 750°C. The molten metal is then poured into a mould and cooled. The newly formed aluminium ingot weighs 25 tonnes and contains enough metal to make 1.5 million drinks cans. This can then be rolled out, manufactured into new cans, decorated and filled ready to go back on the shelf in shops.

The 2021 UK recycling rate for aluminium drink cans is 82%, which is an all-time high. But Every Can Counts, a not-for-profit organisation, is aiming to encourage the UK to achieve a 100% recycling rate. They highlight the benefits of can recycling and improve access to recycling facilities.

Why should we recycle our drinks cans?

In order to reduce our contributions to the climate crisis and take care of our planet we need to conserve natural resources and use them in a sustainable way. In Scotland, approximately 80% of our carbon emissions come from the consumption and disposal of materials. By transitioning from a linear model of make, use, throw away, to a more circular economy model (making, re-using and recycling with little to no waste) we could save our resources and the planet.

Everyone has a role to play in achieving this, from taking small personal actions like recycling drink cans to organisations adapting their processes and services to meet the net zero goals set by the government. Recycling aluminium cans saves up to 95% of the energy required to make new cans from raw materials. With the energy needed to make one aluminium can from raw materials, twenty could be made from recycled aluminium. Every drink can recycled reduces the carbon footprint of the next can made and the energy saved by recycling one aluminium can would power a mobile phone for a whole day.

What can you do?

Every Can Counts found that more than three quarters of Glaswegians think that the local council could be doing more to encourage recycling locally. The majority of the residents in Glasgow live in flats with shared recycling facilities which relies on everyone correctly separating their waste. However, drinks cans are widely recycled. To prevent contamination, make sure they are empty before adding them to a mixed recycling bin. According to a recent survey completed by Every Can Counts, nearly two thirds of people who live in Glasgow say they’re becoming more conscious of environmental concerns and their own carbon footprint. Speak to those around you and encourage them to take more action whether it’s recycling correctly or speaking to your local council about more recycling facilities.

Competition Time!

The next time you visit Glasgow Science Centre step into the #EVERYCANCOUNTS Infinity Room and take a journey through time and space. The Infinity Room uses mirrors to produce endless reflections, depicting the infinite life cycle of a recycled drink can. When you recycle an empty aluminium can, you allow it to continue its never-ending journey!

The Infinity Room is located in the main entrance to the science centre until 8th January 2023.

Share a photo or video of your Infinity Room experience using #EVERYCANCOUNTS and tag @EveryCanCountsUK for your chance to win a flight simulation experience at Glasgow Science Centre's Newton Flight Academy!

Further Information

This blog post, written by Caitlin MacInnes from Glasgow Science Centre, is adapted from an article that first appeared in Glasgow Times in November 2022.

For more information visit: www.everycancounts.co.uk/infinityroom