Aluminium cans


Environmental benefits: Aluminium is a common metal in the UK and is produced in large quantities. Annual world primary production of aluminium is estimated at 24 million tonnes.

The good news is that aluminium can be recycled indefinitely without losing any of its properties. One recycled aluminium can will save enough energy to power a television for three hours.





How to recycle: Aluminium cans can be recycled in a number of ways:

  • Can banks - located at supermarkets and council recycling sites. These are emptied by waste management companies or your local council
  • Kerbside recycling schemes - operated by your local council to make recycling at home as convenient as possible.
  • Cash for cans centres - where you can exchange empty aluminium cans for cash.

Useful links:
Big Green Switch. Recycle your metal cans and tins



Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance.

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