What is "better", to recycle a 2 ltr bottle, or aluminum cans?

Question

I was wondering if anyone knew which made more sense in terms of being the MOST environmentally correct....to buy and recycle 2 liter soda bottles, or to buy and recycle aluminum soda cans....??

Answer 1

Both are good, however, plastic bottles don't degrade very easily over time, but aluminum will eventually rust and create new compounds. So I would vote that recycling plastic is better, because metals do eventually break down.

Answer 2

I can't answer the question but I do think I must say something about the supposed answers you already have.

Aluminium will not rust, only iron and iron alloys can rust. Aluminium is very reactive but is also almost indestructible in the natural environment because oxidation forms a layer of aluminium oxide on the surface that seals the rest of the metal and prevents further oxidation. An aluminium can might survive a hundred years or more whereas a steel can will probably rust away in a decade or two.

Secondly most plastic bottles used in the US and the UK are suited only for recycling not reuse. Here in Norway where almost all bottles must be at least returnable by law they are much thicker and therefore able to tolerate sterilisation and refilling. Reuse is encouraged by a fairly large deposit (NOK2.5, roughly USD0.4) and automated machines for returning them in all medium and large supermarkets.

Answer 3

To buy 2 litre soda bottles and recycle them is more environmentally correct.

Answer 4

Recycling cans is where the money is. Cans are easier to collect because most are small enough that you can haul more of them then you could plastic bottles.

Answer 5

Smelting aluminium ore to make aluminium metal is just about the most energy-intensive reaction in chemistry. The opposite reaction, oxidising aluminium, is what powers the solid fuel boosters of the space shuttle. Recycling aluminium saves huge amounts of energy.

Answer 6

my answer would be buy cans safe the cans and take them to a recycling center and cash them its called free money .com you can crush them your self Shaw's use to have a machine where you could put them in and get money plus cans will rust and kind of be gone in time unlike bottles thats just my opinion

Answer 7

Aluminum, you get more money, and the demand is huge. You get more profit. Less volume more money.

If you recycle plastic, value for recycled one is very less, demand is also, not assured. More volume less profit.

Answer 8

If you are not on a council scheme take them to your local recycling depot ie Foxhall

Answer 9

plastic bottles you can use them over an over cans you cant so buy cans to recycle an plastic to reuse

Answer 10

both of them is a good idea to recycle