What Happens To That Aluminum Can You Just Recycled?

Old aluminum, collected at the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority in Hartford.
Photo by Ryan Caron King for WNPR

In New England, all states except for Rhode Island and New Hampshire have bottle bills. Those are recycling programs built around a system of deposits and refunds, aimed at reducing litter and protecting the environment. But when it comes to old aluminum, it’s not just environmentalists who want to see more recycling — there’s a real business case to be made for it, too.

As thousands of aluminum cans poured by at the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority plant in Hartford, one thing was very apparent: lots of people don’t seem to claim Connecticut’s five cent bottle deposit refund.

Visit WNPR for the full story.