Aluminium recycling. Close-up view of compacted aluminium drinks cans awaiting recycling. The re- use of aluminium is one of the better examples of recycling. Aluminium is consumed in vast amounts by the soft drinks industry. It is, however, very energy-intensive to recover from ores. Recycling of cans reduces the demand for fresh metal to be mined, and thus reduces the energy demand of the industry. In some countries (notably states of the USA), a small financial incentive is offered to consumers for returning used cans to recycling collection points. Photographed in British Columbia, Canada.