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Whether or not to separate the seal from the can depends on the destination. Understand

The seal of the aluminum can must not be separated from the can. This is because it is made of a low aluminum composition; and its recycling yields more when it is attached to the can, which is richer in aluminum. For this same reason it is designed to stick to the can.

However, there are institutions that receive large amounts of aluminum can seals to exchange them for wheelchairs, which are donated to people who cannot afford to buy them.

There are also talented artisans who develop various products from the seal of aluminum cans, such as bags, belts, bracelets, cup holders, necklaces, earrings, lamps, pillows, garments, curtains, backpacks, among other objects.

But selling canister seals has always seemed like a myth. What happens to the can seals given to institutions that exchange them for wheelchairs? Are they melted down and made into wheelchairs?

In fact, seals are not made into wheelchairs. They are sold, and the amount received is used to buy wheelchairs.

Although the seal on the aluminum can is less valuable than the can itself, some organizations that receive these items prefer to do so in order not to compete with the can scavengers - as cans are of great value to scavengers and the seal not. Also, handling seals is much easier than handling cans. The seals are ideal for closed environments, do not accumulate air and water volume, are easy to store and do not attract insects.

But remember: in case you are thinking about destining the seal of the aluminum can for the making of handicrafts or for institutions that receive the seal of the aluminum can for the exchange for wheelchairs, you can separate the seal from the can. Otherwise, don't separate! It is less pure in aluminum than can and its recycling alone loses value.

Aluminum is an infinitely recyclable material and Brazil occupies a prominent place in this recycling sector, but it is also necessary to do its part. Set aside the aluminum cans for selective collection in your neighborhood or, if you do not have this service, find the collection points closest to your home in the free search engines at eCycle portal.

Aluminum alloys such as can seals are made up of small percentages of copper, silicon, magnesium and zinc. But the chemical element Al, aluminum, when pure, has the form of a silver metal, light and odorless, being considered the third most abundant chemical element in the earth's crust and the most abundant among metallic elements, but it is not found in the metallic form we know, but in different minerals and clays.

• Recycling: what is it and why is it important

Aluminum was and is very important for the development of modern society. Despite being considered an inexhaustible natural resource, the constant and growing exploitation affects the environment.

The main raw material of metallic aluminum is Alumina. Alumina is extracted from a class of rocks called bauxite through the so-called Bayer process.

Due to the fact that aluminum is a very stable metal, the energy required for its production is extremely high, reaching 16.5 kWh for each kilo of aluminum produced. Translating this data: a kilo of aluminum produced by means of alumina has more energy than necessary, on average, to keep a computer running for 8 hours, every day, for a month. In 2006, the aluminum industry in Brazil consumed a total of 25,983 GWh for the production of 1.6 million tons of aluminum. This amount of energy represents 6% of all electricity generated in the country.

Therefore, if you are not going to send the can's seal to charities or artisans, use your can with the seal to be recycled. But remember that the seal on the can can be very important for some people. About 140 two-liter PET bottles filled with these rings, equivalent to 385,000 can seals, can be exchanged for a wheelchair.