Aluminum Recycling Guide: How to Properly Recycle Aluminum Cans & Foil

Of the 102 billion aluminum cans manufactured in 1998, 62 million were recycled. Even if your community does not have curbside recycling, you should be able to find a drop-off center nearby where you can take your aluminum to be recycled.

Things You'll Need

• Yellow Pages
• Recycle Bins

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Instructions

• 1

  Check with your county's Department of Public Works to determine where to recycle aluminum, tin and foil.

• 2

  Rinse and place aluminum/tin cans, caps, lids and foil in the same recycle bin. Most counties with curbside recycling programs will pick these up together.

• 3

  Drop off aluminum/tin cans, caps, lids and foil at drop-off centers if your community does not have a curbside recycling program. Most centers will be listed in the yellow pages under recycling.

• 4

  Avoid recycling spray cans or cans containing paint or hazardous materials. Contact your local recycling program or Department of Public Works to learn where these can be recycled.

• 5

  Get in touch with the local buy-back center if you live in an area with bottle/can deposits and plan to drop off a large number of aluminum cans for cash.

• 6

  Call 1 (800) CLEANUP for state recycling information.

• 7

  Contact the Can Manufacturers Institute for more information on recycling.