An Earth Day Tribute

The aluminum can is one of the best packaging materials around. It’s lightweight, yet sturdy. Aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable and can be back on the shelf, filled with cold soda, within 60 days of when you dropped it in the big blue bin.

Aluminum cans can be collected and sold as scrap metal to recycling centers across the country. Making new aluminum cans from used cans takes 96% less energy than making a new one from scratch. In fact, you could make 20 recycled cans with the same energy it would take to produce one single can from virgin ore.

The can does have its faults. Throw it in the landfill and it takes 500 years to oxidize. But that’s not really the can’s fault! It’s up to us to see that solid waste is properly managed.

2015 marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day. It’s a day to thank workers laboring in the recycling industry. Waste Management and Recycling not only provides great career opportunities, it gives workers the opportunity to make a difference! They make the world a better place.