Recycling Aluminum Siding

Aluminum siding has been a common choice for residential projects for decades. Not only is it lightweight, durable, and affordable, but it can add unique character to a home, shed, or garage aesthetics. However, as with any construction element, it doesn’t last forever; additionally, it has fallen out of style lately since it can get easily damaged, requires extensive upkeep, and doesn’t meet the current residential aesthetic trends. Therefore, as a business that works with siding, you are likely getting left with more and more scrap siding after every replacement project. Fortunately, recycling aluminum siding is an easy way to make some extra cash while making an environmentally friendly choice!

Your “HOW TO” for Recycling Aluminum Siding

If you are planning on recycling aluminum siding, there are a few key elements to consider before throwing it into the back of a truck. Here is what you should do:

Step 1: Prepare the Metal

When recycling aluminum siding, your local recycling centers will only take the siding – not any other material or product attached to it. Therefore, you will want to look through the scrap and make sure to remove anything that shouldn’t be there. The most common removed items are nails.

Step 2: Give it a Rinse

Most siding is attached to a structure for years, possibly decades, before being removed. During that time, it can collect quite a bit of dirt, grime, and debris, both manmade and environmental. Unfortunately, this can contaminate the recycling process, so overtly dirty siding may get rejected. We suggest giving it a quick washdown to get the worst of it off.

Step 3: Call Your Local Recycling Company

Give your local recycling company a call for a real-time estimate! Due to the fluctuating prices of metal, the cash you get for recycling aluminum siding will vary by day.

Step 4: Take It In

Once the siding has been collected and cleaned, toss it in the truck and make your way to your recycling company. While you are at it, grab anything else that is ready to be recycled, too, so you can get the biggest bang for your buck.

How Does Recycling Aluminum Siding Work?

Aluminum is infinitely recyclable – meaning that it can be recycled again and again without losing its integrity. Therefore, it should be recycled every time; otherwise, it is a total waste to our planet. To put it in perspective, the Aluminum Association highlights a remarkable fact: Recycled aluminum saves 95% of the energy needed to make new aluminum.

So, how does it work? It’s quite simple.

After enough aluminum has been collected, it is cleaned, shredded into smaller pieces, and melted using a large furnace. Then, the molten aluminum is poured into molds to make ingots (a block of metal), which can then be rolled into sheets to create new products!