The scrap value of aluminium cans in the uk

Aluminium has always been one of the most valuable and in-demand non-ferrous metals in the scrap industry. It’s lightweight, endlessly recyclable, and found in almost every household. One of the most common forms is the humble drinks can. Whether it’s a can of Coca Cola, lemonade, beer or Red Bull, every single aluminium can holds genuine recycling and cash value.

For customers wanting to understand how this translates into scrap prices, how many cans make up a tonne, or simply why aluminium cans matter so much in the metal-recycling world, this guide breaks everything down clearly.

Are fizzy drinks cans really made from 100% aluminium?

In the UK, standard fizzy drink cans are made from aluminium, including big-name brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite, and most supermarket-branded soft drinks.

The reason aluminium’s used so widely is simple:

• it’s extremely lightweight
• it’s strong enough to hold carbonated liquids
• it’s resistant to corrosion
• it can be recycled an unlimited number of times without losing quality

Unlike some food cans, which are steel with a thin tin coating, drinks cans are pure aluminium, making them far more valuable in the scrap stream.

How much does a single aluminium can weigh?

A standard 330ml aluminium drinks can typically weighs between 13 and 20 grams, depending on the manufacturer and design. Over the years, can manufacturers have reduced the thickness of the metal to save resources, but this average weight range is still reliable for calculations.

The printed coating and coloured design that appear on the can weigh very little. The paint layer is incredibly thin, usually less than half a gram, and has almost no impact on the overall scrap weight. When cans are melted down, this coating simply burns off during the recycling process.

How many aluminium cans make up one metric tonne?

Because a tonne is 1,000,000 grams, you can estimate the number of cans needed by dividing the total weight by the weight of an average can:

• 1,000,000 g ÷ 15 g ˜ 66,600 cans
• 1,000,000 g ÷ 13 g ˜ 76,900 cans

So depending on the exact can weight, you’ll need somewhere between 65,000 and 77,000 cans to reach one metric tonne of aluminium.

It’s a figure that often surprises people. Although aluminium’s valuable, it takes a significant number of lightweight cans to build up to a full tonne.

Why is scrap aluminium so valuable?

Compared to steel, scrap aluminium usually commands a higher price because:

• it requires far less energy to recycle than to produce new aluminium
• the demand from manufacturers stays consistently high
• aluminium recycling creates a closed-loop system where the material can be reused indefinitely

Even small quantities build up over time. Many people save cans at home, while businesses, clubs, and community groups often collect them to raise money or reduce waste.

How are aluminium cans recycled?

The process is one of the most efficient in the recycling sector:

1. Collection – cans are gathered from households, scrap yards, community collections, and recycling centres.
2. Sorting – aluminium’s separated from steel and other materials using magnets and automated systems.
3. Cleaning and shredding – cans are shredded into small pieces and cleaned to remove any residue.
4. Melting – the shredded aluminium is melted in a furnace. The paint and lacquer burn off at this stage.
5. Casting into ingots – the molten aluminium’s poured into moulds to create large blocks known as ingots.
6. Rolling and manufacturing – these ingots are rolled into thin sheets and reused to create new products, including new drinks cans.

A drinks can recycled today can be back on supermarket shelves as a brand new can in as little as six weeks.

What does this mean for scrap customers?

If you regularly dispose of aluminium, whether cans or other forms such as profiles, sheets, or alloy wheels, it’s worth separating it from general waste. Even though cans are lightweight, consistent collection can build up to a meaningful amount over time.

For businesses, clubs, charities, and anyone wanting to maximise the value of their scrap metal, aluminium’s well worth saving.

Summary

Aluminium cans might seem insignificant on their own, but collectively they hold substantial value. With tens of thousands making up a single tonne, every small bit contributes to a much larger picture. Understanding the weight, composition, and recycling process gives customers a clearer sense of why scrap aluminium remains such an important and valuable material in the UK recycling industry.