Aluminum Recycling Statistics
- In 2009, 3.4 million tons of aluminum were generated in the U.S. and .69 million tons were recovered.
- In the United States, over 100,000 aluminum cans are recycled each minute. That amounts to 53 billion cans recycled in 2010. However, over $1.1 billion in aluminum cans were wasted in 2010.
- The aluminum cans recycled in 2010, stacked one on top of the other, would be 1,454 times taller than the Empire State Building.
- If you laid all the aluminum cans recycled in 2010 end to end, they could circle the earth 169 times!
- The U.S. recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans reached 58.1% in 2010- a rate that is more than double that of any other beverage container.
- Recycled ContentAluminum cans have 68% recycled content.
- Used aluminum cans are recycled and back on the shelf as new cans in as few as 60 days.
- EnergyTwenty recycled cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore.
- Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run your television for three hours.
- The amount of energy saved just from recycling cans in 2010 is equal to the energy equivalent of 17 million barrels of crude oil, or nearly two days of all U.S. oil imports.
- ResourcesThe pollutants created in producing one ton of aluminum include 3,290 pounds of red mud, 2,900 pounds of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas), 81 pounds of air pollutants and 789 pounds of solid wastes.
- Tossing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as pouring out half of that can’s volume of gasoline.
GRAPHS
Aluminum, Plastic and Glass Recycling Rates 1986-2006
Aluminum cans are the most-recycled major container type in the United States, with a 45% U.S. recycling rate. This rate is down nine percentage points from the 54.5% aluminum can recycling rate in 2000, and it is down twenty percentage points from the peak of 65% in 1992.
PET plastic bottles had a 23.5% recycling rate in 2006, compared to 24.8% in 2000. This rate is down from a peak of 37.3% in 1995.
Glass was recycled at an average rate of 27.8% in 2006.
PET plastic bottles had a 23.5% recycling rate in 2006, compared to 24.8% in 2000. This rate is down from a peak of 37.3% in 1995.
Glass was recycled at an average rate of 27.8% in 2006.
Beverage Containers Wasted: 1986 and 2006
In 1986, 648,315 tons of aluminum cans were wasted (not recycled), but in 2006 815,352 tons were wasted.
In 1986, 276,711 tons of steel cans were wasted, but only 1,687 tons were wasted in 2006.
285,188 tons of PET bottles were wasted in 1986, while 2,076,000 tons were wasted in 2006.
In 1986, 58,884 tons of HDPE bottles were wasted, and in 2006, 148,283 tons were wasted.
In 1986, 276,711 tons of steel cans were wasted, but only 1,687 tons were wasted in 2006.
285,188 tons of PET bottles were wasted in 1986, while 2,076,000 tons were wasted in 2006.
In 1986, 58,884 tons of HDPE bottles were wasted, and in 2006, 148,283 tons were wasted.