picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum_can
Here is the life cycle of the aluminum can. All aluminum cans start out as bauxite, an aluminum ore. Bauxite is the worlds main source of aluminum. Australia is one of the worlds main producers of bauxite. Although the aluminum demand is rising, the current amount of bauxite reserve is enough to supply the planet for centuries. Recycling Aluminum will considerably extend the bauxite reserves as well.
After the bauxite is collected, it is refined and separated to extract the aluminum and other minerals found in it like gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore.
Then the aluminum is smelted and cast into ingots.
Then the aluminum is smelted and cast into ingots.
After being cast into ingots the aluminum is then fabricated and manufactured into cans. The cans can be used for any kind of material, but mainly for beverages. Once the beverage has been consumed, its off to be recycled.
First they are sorted and shredded into smaller parts. Afterwards they go back to the smelter and are recast into ingots.
From there they can be made into EVEN MORE CANS, or other things. There are so many uses of aluminum. It could be made into frames for glasses, foil, antennae, wiring, even a whole new bike could be made from recycled cans!
First they are sorted and shredded into smaller parts. Afterwards they go back to the smelter and are recast into ingots.
From there they can be made into EVEN MORE CANS, or other things. There are so many uses of aluminum. It could be made into frames for glasses, foil, antennae, wiring, even a whole new bike could be made from recycled cans!
You can even use it for art sculptures!
Some of them didn't even need to be melted or recycled! Some were made straight from cans!
sources of pictures in slide show. (in order of appearance)