Column: Randy Tuchtenhagen, Solid Waste Officer

Recycling aluminum represents a valuable portion of commodities in the U.S. The industry pumped $77 billion into our economy in 2010 and continues to be the most valuable of recyclable materials. Discovered in the 1820s, aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth. The aluminum can is also unique in that in 60 days a can is recycled, turned into a new can and back on the store shelf.

While the national recycling rate for aluminum cans is about 58 percent, states with a container deposit law recycle 80 percent or more. A bill to require a 10 cent deposit on beverage containers (including aluminum) was introduced this past legislative session and may be debated next year.

The program as written would place a 10 cent deposit on plastic, glass, aluminum and tin beverage containers and may include wine, beer and other beverages that other states exempted.

There is potential that unredeemed containers could generate millions of dollars. How that money would be used is undetermined but using some to build recycling infrastructure or improve existing systems is appropriate.

For many years aluminum cans sold for about eighteen to 20 cents a pound locally. Today you can expect to receive double that or more and there are still many cans lying along our roadways and on the streets. Businesses who redeem aluminum cans also take aluminum pie plates and foil, if it’s clean. Refer to our recycling information and instructions sheet. Aluminum items that can be recycled curbside include pop cans, pie tins, aluminum trays and foil — wash and rinse thoroughly. If you do not have a copy of the instruction sheet look at the county website or throughout the county in banks and post offices. Aluminum cans can also be recycled curbside with your other materials.

By recycling aluminum we use 95 percent less energy and 20 recycled content new cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore. By trashing an aluminum can we waste as much energy as dumping half of that volume in gasoline.

There are currently two places in Freeborn County that will purchase aluminum beverage containers. One is PSI Recycling located in the Nelson’s Market Place parking lot one Friday each month. The other business is Pool’s Bicycle, Electric and Recycling located in the old Land O Lakes building across the street from Jim & Dude’s on West Clark Street.

Have you finished that summer painting project? Remember to check out and consider Amazon Paint, a 100 percent recycled paint that comes from household hazardous waste collection programs throughout Minnesota.

Their new facility in Fridley is larger and still growing. You may be using paint that was collected and recycled from Freeborn County.

Randy Tuchtenhagen is the Freeborn County solid waste officer.