How many aluminum cans are recycled?

b2ccc99fa805ca728708c89b244a0edbGrade level: 3rd – 5th grades

Skills: Percentage

Related environmental issues: Reduce, reuse & recycle

Area level: National

On overage, 55% of aluminum beverage cans sold in the United States were recycled in 2013.

  1. Suppose your local supermarket recycled as many aluminum cans as US average.  If the supermarket sold 100 aluminum cans, how many aluminum cans were recycled and how many aluminum cans were not recycled and end up in landfills?
  2. In the same year, 99% of aluminum cans sold in California were recycled. If one supermarket in California sold 100 aluminum cans, how many aluminum cans were recycled and how many aluminum cans were not recycled and end up in landfills?
  3. How many more aluminum cans end up in landfills in the supermarket in the #1 than the supermarket in California?

Source: US EPA and California EPA

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Answer keys

  1. 55 cans recycled and 45 cans not recycled (100-55=45)
  2. 99 cans recycled and 1 can not recycled (100-99=1)
  3. 44 bottles (99-55=44)