Recycling rates fall as billions of aluminum cans are lost

ORLANDO, Fla. — What you put in your recycling bin matters. So does how you put it there.

Ahead of America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, waste analytics company Greyparrot is sharing tips based on what its AI cameras detect as materials move through recycling facilities.

The company says its technology tracked more than 16 million objects at Circular Services’ Sunset Park facility in Brooklyn this summer. During 67 operating days, the facility recovered more than 5 million aluminum cans, according to Greyparrot.

Billions of cans miss the recycling stream

An industry report released in December 2024 found that 43% of aluminum beverage cans shipped in the United States in 2023 were recycled.

More than 61 billion cans were discarded, representing nearly $1.2 billion in aluminum, according to the Aluminum Association and Can Manufacturers Institute. The recycling rate was below the roughly 52% average recorded since tracking began in 1990.

Five ways to recycle better

1. Keep recyclables loose. Don’t put recyclables inside plastic bags. Orlando says bags harm recycling machinery and instructs residents to empty materials directly into their carts.

2. Empty cans and leave them uncrushed. Greyparrot recommends keeping cans intact, saying crushed or partly full cans can be harder for sorting equipment to identify.

3. Flatten cardboard boxes. Both Orlando and Orange County direct residents to flatten boxes before recycling them. Keep food-soiled cardboard out of the recycling cart.

4. Empty and clean accepted containers. Orlando accepts empty, clean plastic bottles and containers. Orange County’s guidance calls for empty, dry recyclables without food or liquids. Check your collection provider’s rules before putting an unfamiliar item in the bin.

5. Keep batteries out. Greyparrot warns batteries can create a fire risk at recycling facilities. Orange County also lists batteries among items that do not belong in curbside recycling carts. Use an appropriate collection or drop-off program instead.