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Thousands of plastic water bottles washed up on a beach.

TIME TO DITCH PLASTIC 

Recycling Facts 

  • 98% of recycled aluminum cans are turned into new products — compared to 60% for glass and just 20% for plastic 

  • An aluminum can may be recycled and back on shelves in as little as 60 days

  • Aluminum is infinitely recyclable without loss of quality

  • Only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled - 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use

  • Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours

Environmental Impact

  • Over 8 million tons of plastic enter our oceans each year

  • Aluminum cans are closed-loop recyclable, while plastic typically becomes lower-grade material (downcycling)

  • Plastics break down into microplastics that harm marine life and contaminate drinking water

  • Aluminum production is more energy-intensive upfront, but its long-term recyclability offsets the impact

  • Plastic bottles can take up to 450 years to decompose in a landfill

Cost of Plastic Polution 

  • Plastic pollution causes an estimated $13 billion in damage annually to marine ecosystems

  • Cleanup efforts, tourism losses, and damage to fisheries account for billions in global costs

  • Countries spend millions annually to manage plastic waste that could have been reduced through packaging alternatives

  • The cost to recycle aluminum is significantly lower than the cost of managing plastic waste

  • Lost revenue from improperly recycled plastics adds to economic strain on municipalities

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