We use 6 billion aluminium cans a year which is enough to go to the moon and back.

About 36% of aluminium cans were recycled in the UK in 1998 and about 50% world-wide.

To make 1 tonne of aluminium it takes 4 tonnes of Bauxite ore Mining of bauxite causes huge environmental damage. It is mined by open cast mining which may destroy the surface habitats which are often tropical rainforest eg in West Africa, West Indies and Australia. It also leaves behind red brown mud.

Transporting the ore and aluminium uses energy.

Aluminium is extracted from the bauxite by electrolysis. It is this part of the process which uses huge amounts of energy. It takes nearly 5 times as much energy to make a tonne of aluminium as to make a tonne of steel.

Aluminium can be recycled over and over again with no loss of quality.

Recycling Aluminium cans