Once placed in the right bin, an aluminium can may return to the store shelf as new packaging in about 60 days. It is one of the fastest and most efficient closed material loops in the packaging industry.

Why is aluminium a circular economy leader?

• Recycling without loss of quality. Aluminium can be recycled again and again without losing its properties.
• Most aluminium is still in use. According to the International Aluminium Institute, around 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today.
• Huge energy savings. Producing aluminium from recycled material requires up to 95% less energy than primary production from bauxite, which means significantly lower CO2 emissions.

What does the 60-day cycle look like?

1. Collection and sorting. Cans go to a sorting plant, where eddy current separators separate aluminium from other waste and magnets remove ferrous metals.
2. Shredding and coating removal. The cans are shredded and lacquers and prints are removed at elevated temperature.
3. Remelting. Aluminium melts at around 660°C. The molten metal is cast into ingots, which are then rolled into thin sheet.
4. Production and filling. New cans are formed from the sheet, filled and sent back to distribution and onto store shelves.

Can recycling in Europe and in Poland

According to European Aluminium and Metal Packaging Europe, the recycling rate of aluminium beverage cans in Europe reached 76.3% in 2023. In Poland, according to Metal Packaging Europe, the rate was 79% in 2021. Since October 2025, Poland has operated a deposit return system that covers, among others, metal cans of up to 1 litre. The Ministry of Climate and Environment indicates collection targets for packaging in the system of 77% from 2025 and 90% from 2029.

The closed loop starts with waste management

The example of the can shows that effective recycling requires efficient collection, precise sorting and modern processing technologies. At Wastes Service Group, we apply the same principles to raw material recovery, including non-ferrous metals, from e-waste and waste batteries. Want to know more? Contact us.