Recycling aluminium waste within the «circular» economy paradigm

Abstract

Pollution of the environment as a result of human activity has become one of the most important problems of our time. Undoubtedly, in the twenty-first century, the development of civilization will be under increasing pressure from the environmental aspect. The use of waste becomes a permanent function of social production, expands the raw material base, preserves non-renewable sources of primary raw materials, prevents environmental pollution, provides a significant economic effect by saving current costs and investments. The involvement of aluminum waste in cyclic technologies can reduce the burden on the environment and save society’s natural and energy resources. In recent years, environmental requirements, as well as energy consumption standards, increased the cost of electricity, which led to an increase in operating costs in the production of not only primary but also secondary aluminum. Recycling of aluminum waste and recycling of used aluminum cans for beverages also requires modernization of production. The paper assesses the use of secondary aluminum in the process of cyclic production of aluminum cans. The cost of aluminum cans is dependent on the technology used to produce aluminum alloy for the production of said packaging.