Aluminium is one of those metals we use the maximum in our daily life. It is needed for everything from drink cans and takeaway trays to smartphones, cars and aeroplanes.

But do you know? Making aluminium from scratch (bauxite ore) is severely resource-hungry. It needs enormous amounts of electricity, water, and energy. In fact, aluminium production is called “frozen electricity” because of its massive energy footprint.

So, next time you throw away an aluminium item. Remember that you’re tossing a lot of cash, resources, and opportunities straight into the bin.

Then, what to do? Let’s introduce you to a process called “aluminium recycling”. It’s an eco-smarter and wallet-friendlier way to make up aluminium needs without draining resources.

At West Coast Metals, we’ve seen firsthand just how powerful recycled aluminium is. Not just for the environment, but for your wallet too.

Let’s discuss everything you need to know about recycled aluminium.

What Is Aluminium? & To What Extent is Aluminium Recyclable?

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. It’s lightweight, flexible, resistant to corrosion, and extremely durable. That’s why it’s become a staple in industries like transport, packaging, construction, and technology.

Moving toward the most asked question from our customers, “Can aluminium be recycled?” The answer is a big yes. In fact, aluminium is one of the most recycled materials on earth with 76% efficiency rate. Because it doesn’t lose its properties after being recycled.

Source: International Aluminium Institute

Hence, unlike steel or copper, aluminium can be recycled infinite times. No matter how many times it goes through the recycling aluminium process, it comes out just as strong and usable as new. You won’t even be able to detect the difference.

That’s how, the same piece of aluminium goes for thousand years & live infinite lives. Today a fizzy drink can, tomorrow an aeroplane wing.

Why Aluminium Recycling is Needed?

Here’s the impressive part!

“Recycling aluminium saves up to 95% of the energy needed to produce it from raw bauxite ore.”

Source

Means recycling just one aluminium can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours or charge a smartphone 20 times. Globally, the energy saved each year from aluminium can recycling could power entire countries.

In the US alone, aluminium recycling supports 100,000+ jobs, $1.6 billion in material sales, and enough energy saved to power 1.5 million homes per year.

Read More at: Benefits of Recycling Aluminium

Yet despite this, billions of cans are still thrown into landfill every year. That’s not only a waste of valuable resources but also a missed chance to earn extra cash for consumers.

The Mounting Global Demand for Aluminium

The global demand for aluminium is skyrocketing.

As the world pushes towards greener transport, renewable energy, and sustainable construction, aluminium has become the go-to material for multiple industries. Lightweight but strong, it’s vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panel frames.

This increased demand can’t be fulfilled by more production or import only. It will need your aluminium trash to rescue, according to US financial experts.

Current estimates suggest that global aluminium demand will rise 40% by 2030.  

But mining new aluminium ore isn’t sustainable in the long run. It consumes vast amounts of energy and creates significant carbon emissions. This is why the spotlight has shifted to recycled aluminium, which already makes up about one-third of global aluminium supply.

Here’s a striking stat: 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. That shows how effective recycling is at keeping this valuable material in circulation.

Types of Aluminium Scrap

We receive a huge amount of scrap for the aluminium recycling Perth, that contributes to this eco-friendly process. It includes:

• Post-Production Scrap

This kind of aluminium involves clean stuff that comes directly from factories and industries. It can be unused offcuts, trimmings, or rejected products. Because it’s free from paint, coatings, and contamination, it’s the easiest and most valuable type of aluminium to recycle.

• Consumer Scrap

This is the aluminium we encounter every day. E.g. cans, foil, window frames, utensils, bike parts, or old appliances. It is equally recyclable, but needs to be sorted and cleaned before being melted down.

Also Read: Top 4 Aluminium Recycling Items That are Not “Cans”

Both play an important role. At West Coast Metals, we’re equipped to handle both categories. So, nothing useful ends up wasted.

The Process of Aluminium Recycling Perth

Aluminium recycling is a precise process that needs expertise at every step. So, the metal can be reused without any impurity in it & be ecofriendly. It involves:

1. Collection: Aluminium is gathered from homes, businesses, factories & demolition sites.
2. Sorting: Non-aluminium materials like steel, plastic, or glass are separated out.
3. Shredding: Aluminium is shredded into smaller pieces for the ease of cleaning & melting.
4. Cleaning: Paint, coatings, or impurities are removed. Hence, the recycled metal becomes as pure as possible.
5. Melting: The clean aluminium is melted at around 600 °C. It is far less than the 900 °C needed for raw ore.
6. Casting: The molten aluminium is poured into moulds and cast into large blocks called ingots.
7. Re-Use – These ingots are then sold to manufacturers who turn them into new products.

The beauty of this process? It can be repeated indefinitely without any loss of quality.

Where Does Recycled Aluminium Go?

Recycled aluminium has endless applications. Because it has properties similar to raw aluminium, so, it can be used anywhere the metal is needed.

Few common uses include:

This is why the aluminium recycling price stays strong. Because the demand for recycled aluminium isn’t decreasing anytime soon. Every time you recycle, you’re feeding back into this endless loop of usefulness.

Sustainability Angle of Recycled Aluminium

Aluminium recycling isn’t only about waste management. It’s about the future of our planet too. Every tonne of recycled aluminium saves:

• 14,000 kilowatt hours of energy
• 40 barrels of oil
• 10 cubic metres of landfill space

On top of that, recycling aluminium reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 90% compared to producing new metal. Hence, it’s a win-win: less waste in landfills, fewer emissions in the atmosphere, and more money in your back pocket.

There are several scientific studies showing that recycling aluminium offers better environmental solutions as compared to alternative waste management options.

The Challenges of Aluminium Recycling

If recycling aluminium is so good, why isn’t everything recycled already? Well, there are several hurdles we face in the process, e.g.

• Collection rates vary: In some countries, recycling rates are over 80%, while in others, less than half of aluminium cans make it back into circulation.
• Contamination: When aluminium gets mixed with other materials, the recycling process becomes more complex and costly.
• Export issues: Some scrap is exported instead of being recycled locally, meaning its value is lost to overseas markets.

Despite these challenges, the industry is rapidly evolving.

The improved collection systems and technologies are introduced to capture more scrap and recycle it efficiently. So, if consumers like you comply, we can turn almost all the used aluminium back into industry & do our planet a huge favour.

Got aluminium cans, scrap, or offcuts lying around?

Partner with West Coast Metals for Aluminium Recycling

Based in Perth, our family-owned, female-run scrapyard has been in business for more than two decades. We offer the best aluminium recycling price in Perth and always go the extra mile to make sure you’re happy with our service.

If you’re a tradie with offcuts or a family dropping off soft drink cans. Get our clean, professional, and friendly service to recycle all of your aluminium waste.

Contact Us Now

Explore Our Aluminium Recycling Service

Let’s work together to keep aluminium in the loop and out of the landfill.