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How much aluminium is recycled in the world yearly?

Do aluminium and steel cans really need washing before they are recycled?

  • I have all the aluminium drinks cans that I have used for the week under my desk in a bag. I would like to recycle these cans but should I wash them beforehand? The washing that I ...show more

  • Answer:

    You should wash them out as soon as you finish them, then you won't even need soap, because the residue hasn't dried yet. The reason why people do this is that at the recycling center, cans have to be washed before they can be recycled. This is done with very harsh chemicals, because this is the only way to get rid of any mold and smell that will have developed inside the cans. Of course those chemicals are horrible for the environment, but the more people wash out their cans, the less chemicals they will need.

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Th only reason to wash *anything* before recycling is to stop it going mouldy/smelly/disgusting while you are waiting for the recycling collection. Swilling empty cans with used soapy washing-up water won't have any detrimental effect on the environment.

its not needed but empty them and keep them in a closed container to avoid attracting bees and rodents.

jersey city Joe

Yes i always do.

richard_beckham2001

Yes they do, but they will be chemically washed before they are actually recycled at the facility. Easier to handle and sort things when they aren't, sticky, moldy and smelly. Also helps cut down on germy stuff like bacteria, flies, worms, magots etc. Hmm..I wonder if the last guy who used that bottle I just drank out of rinsed it out before recyling it....

konstipashen

I always wash my recyclables!!! Simply because they only get put out once a week and I don't want them to attract bugs! After washing my dishes I place them in the soap water and let them soak while I clean counters, sweep & mop. After the floor is dry, I dip them in the rinse water & set them to dry, then of course to the bin. Bring your cans home once a week or daily! Hope this helps!

gypsyrose8375

It's the smell. If people won't wash their recyclables such as glass and beer cans, a 3-week accumulation can smell really, really bad.

blessed_thang

yes

sheri

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