Commercial Aluminum Can Recycling Tips

If your business collects a large number of used aluminum cans through the course of operations, you’ll need a method for recycling those cans quickly and easily. This is a job that doesn’t have to be particularly difficult, but it can get out of hand if you don’t have a plan in place. Let’s take a look at some helpful commercial aluminum can recycling tips that your business may be able to put into action.

Keep It Clean

It’s important to have your materials as clean as possible when getting ready for recycling. If you can wash out the aluminum cans, and then allow them to dry, that would be best. Failing to clean out the cans could lead to problems such as pest infestations, and that is certainly something you want to stay away from. By starting with clean aluminum cans when getting ready to process the recycling, you’ll be happier with the final result.

Sorting Is Key

Likely the most time-consuming job you will face with regard to aluminum can recycling is the sorting of these items. In many cases, you won’t just have aluminum cans that need to be handled. You’ll have a variety of other recyclable products to sort as well.

Things like plastic recyclables, pieces of other metals, and more may all be mixed together with the cans. Be careful not to include aluminum pie plates, tin, steel or other scrap metal materials with your aluminum can recycling.

A Quick Check

As employees are sorting through a pile of recyclable materials, there may be items from time to time that are hard to identify or recognize. For that reason, it is helpful to have a magnet on hand during the sorting process. A magnet will not stick to aluminum, so this is a quick and easy check to see if the object in question is aluminum or another metal. As long as the magnet does not attach itself to the item, there is a good chance it is aluminum.

Paper is Not a Problem

Those who are accustomed to recycling plastic may be in the habit of checking for paper labels and removing those before moving on in the process. Fortunately, that’s something that isn’t needed when recycling aluminum. Since there is high heat used when melting the recycled aluminum down, any paper will simply burn up and be eliminated. If you’ve been having your employees spend time picking through each item to clean labels off, some of that work can be saved and your process can be streamlined.

Bale Weights, Sizes & Recycling Equipment

Wastecare.com provides a helpful table highlighting the various weights and sizes for aluminum can recycling equipment:

Stock Up On Baling Supplies

At Vulcan Wire, we offer a variety of baling wire supplies and tools that can make commercial recycling tasks easier to handle. If you would like more information about any of our products, or if you would like to place an order, please contact us right away for assistance.