As a self proclaimed “cheap ass”, I don’t like to spend extra money on new items. But as a woman Going Green and Getting Lean (or dying trying), I’ve got my “green ears” perked up at all times, which is how I discovered Reynolds Wrap foil from 100% recycled aluminum (and the box from 100% recycled paperboard). I’m happy to say that the cost difference was negligible, so I bought some, adding another small thing I can do at home to be a little greener.
So what’s the big deal about buying products made from recycled materials, aluminum in particular?
- Households recycle 65-70% of the aluminum they use (yeah us!)
This is mostly cans and not used aluminum foil. Instead, thousands of tons make it into landfills every year. We throw away enough aluminum to create an entire fleet of commercial airliners.
- Aluminum is practically 100 percent recyclable.
It is extremely durable and can be reused over and over again. Aluminum foil is technically just as recyclable as aluminum cans. The problem is that aluminum foil is often dirtier, thus making it harder to recycle.
- It takes 95% less energy to make aluminum from recycled aluminum
For example, recycling one aluminum can will save enough energy to run a television for three hours. It was estimated in 1996 that aluminum manufacturers saved enough energy by recycling aluminum that they could power a city the size of Pittsburgh for roughly six years!
- Americans throw away about three pounds of aluminum foil annually.
It will take roughly 400 years for aluminum to break down naturally in the landfill. Some landfills incinerate aluminum, which releases toxic metals and gas into the atmosphere.
So bottom line, keep recycling all those cans and start recycling your foil, too (if it’s dirty, give it a quick rinse). And when Thanksgiving rolls around, throw in a few boxes of recycled aluminum foil along with your sweet potatoes and turkey. For that matter, make yourself an aluminum crown for being such a eco-conscious consumer!
