. For example, making one tonne of

. For example, making one tonne of aluminium needs 4 tonnes of chemicals and 8 tonnes of bauxite (the mineral ore), and it takes 95 per cent less energy(1) to make a recycled aluminium can than it does to make one from virgin materials


On top of materials needed, the creation of waste slag and the large areas of land required for industrial smelting cause considerable environmental problems.