A massive cube of crushed aluminum cans stands ready for processing at K&K Metal Recycling in Minneapolis. The dense block, held together by steel wires, contains thousands of cans—each once part of the city’s daily consumption cycle. Aluminum is among the most efficiently recycled materials, requiring only a fraction of the energy needed to produce new metal. Facilities like K&K play a vital role in returning this material to circulation, turning everyday waste into reusable industrial feedstock.

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.