Who knew that it seemed like we were all recycling our cans the wrong way?
Industry experts advise against smashing aluminum cans before bringing them in for recycling. Understanding the recycling process, which entails multiple steps after the cans are dropped off, helps you comprehend why this request is being made.
Additionally, recycling plastic bottles may be a bad idea, but we’ll talk about that in a moment.
Stomping Cans To Make More Room
Some people associate special holidays or family vacations with the formation of their most treasured childhood memories. It so happens that one of my designs is based on stacks and stacks of metal cans.
My family was in charge of our town’s summer baseball program when I was a kid. That included overseeing everything related to running the concession stand at each park in addition to what happens on the field.
After the games ended for the day, we had to empty the trash cans near the concession stand, where we would gather bags of aluminum soda cans that were overflowing. After dragging the bags home, we would break the cans for hours to make it easier to transfer them to a recycling facility.
Five cans high in a row, one for every foot of the tower. As we smashed the aluminum, we kept coming up with new and creative methods to amuse ourselves.
I’m now discovering that we were doing it incorrectly.
Why You Shouldn’t Crush Aluminum Cans
To decide whether or not to crush your aluminum cans, you would need to know the specifics of how your neighborhood city or recycling facility sorts things. It’s generally better that you avoid crushing all of those beer cans from the weekend, assuming you are unaware of that.
According to Reader’s Digest, some facilities sort their recyclables using a “single-stream system.” In fact, crushing aluminum cans can disrupt the system as a whole. It is less probable that the smashed can will be identified as aluminum.
“That’s because it’s harder for the electrical current which helps separate out aluminum cans at municipal recycling facilities to identify them,” according to the website.
Should You Flatten Plastic Bottles?
When it comes to recycling, flattening plastic bottles and taking off their lids is another widespread misconception. In fact, this method was formerly advised, but it is no longer in use.
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According to RealSimple.com, recycling facilities can now sort and process plastic bottles more effectively thanks to significant technological advancements. Furthermore, scientists now claim that flattened plastic bottles are more likely to be mistaken for paper goods.
Your aluminum and plastic don’t need to be smashed, crushed, or flattened, which makes recycling much simpler.
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