Recycling Jars and Cans

 Recycling Jars and Cans

    Have you ever thought about what happens to jars and cans after you discard them into the recycling bin? Well, it depends on the materials present in each item.

    First, take a look at glass. Glass is made from several materials, including soda ash, sand, and lime. Similar to many other products, glass does not break down in a landfill. That's why it's important to recycle it whenever possible.

    When glass is recycled, it is first separated by color. Then a machine crushes it into small pieces and the pieces are melted down into a liquid. This hot liquid can then be used to mold new glass jars.

    Now take a look at aluminum. This material comes from an ore that is mined below the ground. It takes a great amount of energy to produce it. However, this energy can be saved if aluminum is recycled.

    If you have ever used pressure to crush a soda can, you know that aluminum is soft. Yet, similar to glass, it will not break down in a landfill, providing another reason to recycle aluminum. When it is recycled, it is melted and then manufactured into new cans and other objects.