Recycled License Plates at K&K Metals

Stacks of discarded Minnesota license plates sit ready for recycling at K&K Metals in Minneapolis. The familiar “10,000 Lakes” slogan and blue gradient design peek through layers of grime and bent aluminum, remnants of years of use on the road. Facilities like this one reclaim the aluminum from expired or damaged plates, melting it down for reuse—part of a statewide effort to reduce waste and recover valuable materials from the transportation system.