Recycling Cans with the Sioux Falls Recycling Experts at Novak is Easy!

Over 34 million tons of food gets wasted in the United States annually, but canned food cuts back on that waste. Canned food keeps longer in the pantry and the steel and aluminum cans used to store food are 100% recyclable over and over again, making it highly economical (Source: CanCentral).  As your Sioux Falls recycling experts, we accept all steel and aluminum cans in all residential recycling containers.

Canned food is picked at its peak ripeness and canned immediately so as to seal in its fresh taste and high nutritional value. By not having to worry about food waste, canned food makes food contamination safer for consumers and cuts back on $7.77 billion worth of foodborne illnesses. The chances that you have canned food in your house currently are pretty high. Pie filling, soda, vegetables, fruits, tuna, sauces, pet food, etc. are all canned and all of those cans are recyclable.

Check out these amazing facts about recycling your aluminum and steel cans:

• Steel cans weigh 33% less than 25 years ago
• Recycling seven steel cans can power a 60 watt light bulb for 26 hours
• There is a 71% recycling rate of steel cans
• Recycling one ton of steel cans can conserve 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of lime stone

• 105,800 cans are recycled in America every minute
• Four six packs can support a two-ton vehicle
• Your TV can run for three hours off of the energy saved by recycling one aluminum can
• The stacked height of all aluminum cans recycled in 2010 equals 1,454 Empire State Buildings
• 13 air craft carriers can be produced from the amount of aluminum recycled in 2011
• Americans have earned $25 billion in recycling since 1976.

How does an old can get recycled into a new one? The process is fascinating!  Over the course of approximately 60 days and starting with you, the can makes its journey from shelf, to the recycling bin and, eventually, back to the shelf. When you finish using a can, be sure to rinse it out and throw it into the recycling bin. There is no need to remove the labels.

Once the cans are collected by Novak Sanitary Services’ professional collectors, it goes to a plant where it sorted and begins the breakdown process. First, cans are shredded into smaller pieces (about the size of walnuts) and then passed through a magnetic drum to remove any steel. Then, the pieces are de-coated of all of their lacquer or paint. The pieces of the different cans are then melted down and fed through stirrers that ensure an even temperature and composition throughout. The melted aluminum is then poured into a casting unit and is treated to remove any non-metallic particles and gases. The melted aluminum is then chilled by jets of cool water pumped around and through the base of the mold to get it to solidify. These new sheets are then repurposed and will be used to create new metal cans to store future food items. 

As your Sioux Falls recycling leader, we also accept empty aerosol cans in our recycling carts.  To read through our aerosol recycling requirements, take some time to read through our blog.

At Novak Sanitary Service, we make Sioux Falls recycling as easy as possible for our customers.  In fact, recycling cans is with Novak Sanitary Service is one of the easiest things to do! Take some time to browse through our 2016 Recycling Guide of items that can and cannot be placed in the recycling cart. 

Don’t forget, Sioux Falls recycling with Novak means you can earn rewards for recycling cans and other acceptable items.  Novak customers who sign up with Recyclebank have the opportunity to earn rewards through recycling common, household items.  As your Sioux Falls recycling leader, we offer residential service that include bi-weekly, curbside recycling along with weekly trash collection. If you have any questions about residential service, or would like to request service, please contact us or call us at 605-338-7126.