How to Recycle Aluminum Siding

Rather than tossing it to the curb, recycle your old aluminum siding.

Aluminum is a common metal used in everything from soda cans to metal cookware. When thrown in the trash and dumped in a landfill, aluminum takes hundreds of years to break down. To help reduce your impact on the environment, you can recycle old aluminum siding at a recycling center near you. Recycling aluminum siding takes a bit of preparation, and you may have to search your area to find a recycling plant close to home.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Metal-cutting snips
• Metal wire
• Cardboard box

Instructions

1. Put on a pair of protective gloves and safety glasses before you start working with aluminum siding.

2. Cut the siding into manageable portions roughly 2 feet long with a pair of metal-cutting snips.

3. Stack the aluminum siding neatly into bundles and secure each bundle with metal wire.

4. Place the bundles of siding in a large cardboard box to keep them from scratching the body or upholstery of your car during transit.

5. Locate a recycling center near you by searching online or checking your local phone book. Earth911.com offers an online search feature that identifies recycling centers by zip code.

6. Contact recycling centers near you to learn their hours of operation, and ask about recycling your aluminum siding.

References

• Professor's House: Recycling Aluminum Cans - Fun Facts
• The Aluminum Association: Where to Recycle
• United States Environmental Protection Agency: Recycling

Resources

• Earth911