Repsol YPF

Metallic containers have won the battle in the soft drink and beer sector. Although the classic small bottles are still used, the advantages of cans, such as the fact that they are easy to manufacture, resistant, light and easy to chill, lead us to use them be it for a trip or day at the beach or in our own home. 

It is estimated that each person throws away around 13 kilos of drinks cans per year and although no more than ten years ago only a quarter of those cans were recycled, nowadays over two-thirds of cans are reused. 

The reasons for this sizeable increase lie in the widespread separation of refuse in different containers in practically all Spanish regions, the improvement brought through the use of electromagnetic waste selection systems in treatment centres, the existence of various collection systems at beaches and public places such as the “Catalunya Platja Neta” programme for clean beaches implemented by more than 30 councils in Catalonia and the “No les llancis” (Don’t throw them away) campaign in Mallorca, and last but not least, the high profitability, since one kilo of waste is worth around one euro. 

Approximately 40% of cans are made from aluminium, a material from which various mineral compounds can be extracted, including bauxite. In order to produce one tonne of aluminium, 3981kg of this material are required, bauxite being found in the first three metres of the jungle subsoil, earth which is reddish in appearance and has a high biodiversity which is endangered due to the tree felling required to extract this material. 

Furthermore, the production process consumes a high level of energy, whilst recycling it only requires 6% of the energy used in the initial manufacturing process. Given that aluminium can be recycled an indefinite number of times without losing any properties, it is understandable that practically 100% of that used in construction and industry is recycled, whilst in Spain’s canning sector, as mentioned above, around 67% is recycled, although there are countries in which a percentage of 90% is reached. A recycling process which can result either in new cans or in any other product, since it has a similar quality to when it was first manufactured. Where recovered  steel cans and containers are concerned, the majority of them are used for electric steelworks.

Finally, any of us, in addition to throwing used cans in the appropriate container, can recycle them at home, converting them into ashtrays, ornaments...etc. There are numerous web pages which offer all kinds of examples of the options available to us, an entertaining DIY exercise with very interesting results, and in some cases, a real art form. 

Related articles:

- Recycling aluminium

- Revaluation of plastic waste