Aluminum Recycling Services in Vancouver, BC
Leaders in Aluminum Recycling
Aluminum is all around us, from beverage cans to electrical wires and handfuls of household items. It’s important to properly recycle aluminum, along with other scrap metals, to keep the environment clean and the economy running. When you need to recycle aluminum in Vancouver, look no further than North Star Metal Recycling. We’re industry pros with more than 70 years in the business, and our goal is to make aluminum recycling as quick and convenient for you as possible.
What Is Aluminum Recycling?
If you’re wondering, “Is aluminum recyclable?”, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, aluminum is the most recycled material of all. Nearly 70% of aluminum cans purchased get recycled, which is a major feat when compared to a meager 10% of plastic bottles.
In essence, aluminum recycling is the stripping down of the metal to its raw material. From there, it can be repurposed into a new aluminum product (which later gets recycled, and the cycle continues).
The Process of Aluminum Recycling
There are many steps involved in appropriately recycling aluminum. The process includes the following steps:
- Sorting: First, it’s necessary to separate pure aluminum from other waste.
- Shredding: Ripping apart the different shapes and sizes, shredding prepares the metal for the next steps.
- Cleaning: In this prep phase, the material is cleansed so it can be safely repurposed.
- Melting: The shredded and cleansed scraps are then melted to complete liquid.
- Purifying: Cleaning isn’t enough to pass along aluminum to its next life. Purification is needed to properly dispose of all waste products.
- Alloy Creation: Aluminum alloys are added to the mix; for example, copper and zinc, among others.
- Compounding: Finally, the molten metal is passed along to manufacturing plants for reuse.
Why Recycle Aluminum?
Like other scrap metals, plastic, paper, and all else recyclable, repurposing aluminum is beneficial for the environment. In addition to its sustainability, the affordability of recycling the product over creating it from raw materials means it’s helpful economically, too
Types of Aluminum Recycling
Not all aluminum recycling is equal. While aluminum all falls into the same category of metal, it’s divided into these seven main categories when it gets recycled:
- Aluminum cans
- Aluminum siding
- Aluminum rims
- Aluminum wire
- Cast aluminum
- Sheet aluminum
- Dirty aluminum
Advantages of Recycling Aluminum
Recycling aluminum is great for the environment across the board. Not only does repurposing the metal save landfills from overflowing, but it also consumes 95% less energy than creating it from scratch. The mining of bauxite – the main material used to create aluminum – is also harmful to the environment, so minimizing its production is essential to sustaining vegetation and wildlife.
Why North Star Metal Recycling
North Star Metal Recycling leads the way in aluminum can recycling in Vancouver. As veterans of the scrap metal industry business since 1950, and members of the Recycling Council of British Columbia and the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries, we’re knowledgeable, reliable, and trustworthy. With a large, modern facility featuring state-of-the-art equipment, we make recycling aluminum easy.
Contact North Star Today to Get Started
We’ll help you get rid of those aluminum scraps once and for all. Our North Star Metal Recycling team is happy not only to take the aluminum weight off your shoulders – but we’re also here to address your questions and concerns. Contact us today for a free quote on aluminum recycling in Vancouver