Aluminum cans can be made with
recycled aluminum. In 2017, 3.8 million tons of aluminum were generated in the US of which 0.62 million tons were recycled - a recycling rate of 16%. According to estimates from the
Aluminum Association, a large amount of aluminium remains unrecycled in the US, where roughly $700 million worth of cans end up in landfills each year. In 2012, 92% of the aluminum beverage cans sold in
Switzerland were recycled. Cans are the most recycled beverage container, at a rate of 69% worldwide. One issue is that the top of the can is made from a blend of aluminum and
magnesium to increase its strength. When the can is melted for recycling, the mixture is unsuitable for either the top or the bottom/side. Instead of mixing recycled metal with more aluminum (to soften it) or magnesium (to harden it), a new approach uses
annealing to produce an alloy that works for both. The aluminum can is also considered the most valuable recyclable material in an average recycling bin. It is estimated that Americans throw away nearly 1 billion dollars a year in wasted aluminum. The aluminum industry pays nearly 800 million dollars a year for recycled aluminum since it is so versatile. Because of the advantages of aluminium packaging (
shelf life,
durability, food grade factor) over plastics, it is considered an alternative to
PET bottles, with the possibility of replacing the majority of them in the next decades. == Cans as collectibles ==