Aluminum foil is one of the most versatile materials around, used for everything from covering cooked food to making crafts. But once you’re done using it, can you recycle aluminum foil? The answer is yes — with a few caveats.
In general, aluminum foil can be recycled just like other types of aluminum, such as cans and trays. However, aluminum foil does need to be recycled differently than other forms of the metal because of its thinness.
See the below map for locations where you can recycle aluminum foil.
Since aluminum is worth money when recycled, some people may wonder if they can make money recycling aluminum foil. The answer is no — while you can make money recycling aluminum cans and other forms of aluminum, there is typically not enough value in aluminum foil to make any significant amount of money. That said, it still helps the environment if you recycle your used foil instead of throwing it away.
Similarly, see if you can recycle aluminum.
Recycling aluminum foil has many benefits. For one thing, recycling uses far less energy than creating something new from raw materials — 95% less energy in fact! This means that recycling saves both energy and resources which in turn helps reduce air and water pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, since most landfills don’t accept metals like aluminum for recycling purposes, by properly disposing of your used foil you won’t have to worry about it ending up in a landfill where it could take centuries to decompose.
Similarly, see if you can recycle aluminum pie pans.
Before recycling your used aluminum foil, there are a few steps you need to take first to ensure that the recyclers are able to process the material correctly:
Wash off any food residue — A quick rinse with soap and warm water will do the trick here.
Make sure all pieces are flat — If pieces are crumpled or folded up they will not be able to go through the sorting machines at many facilities so flatten them out before putting them into your recycle bin at home or taking them to a facility yourself.
Separate from other items — Aluminum needs to be sorted by itself and should not be mixed with paper or plastic products before being sent off for recycling.
Similarly, see if you can recycle aluminum pans.
So now that you know how to properly prepare your used aluminum foil for recycling, where should you take it? Depending on where you live there may be specific locations available for recycling items like this so check with your local waste management company for more information on what options are available in your area. In some cities there may even be curbside pick-up services available where workers come around on designated days and collect recyclable materials from homes so check into that if possible as well. Alternatively, many large stores have bins outside their entrances specifically designated for depositing recyclable materials so those would also work just fine too!
Jordan Klyde is passionate about helping the environment. He spends much of his time thinking and writing about ways to recycle, reduce waste, and conserve energy. As an advocate for environmental sustainability, Jordan works closely with businesses and local governments to develop ways to make our planet better.
Tips For Recycling © 2024
