Recycling is a way of life in Ivory Coast

Recycling is gradually becoming part of the way of life in Ivory Coast. It is already common practice to sort plastic bottles and now beverage can recycling has made its appearance. Yehni Djidji, an Ivorian blogger, tells us more.

Once the beverage cans have been melted down, they can be used to produce kitchen utensils for daily use such as pots and pans, ladles, strainers and ovens. It must however be noted that not every type of can is suitable for this type of recycling.

There are two types of cans: 100% aluminium cans and heavier, steel-and-aluminium cans. The aluminium cans are the ones which, at present, are sought by foundries.

Hélène B., who is familiar with recycling, explains: "Generally the type of cans which are recycled are beer cans. They really are 100 % aluminium. You can't be sure of this for soft drink cans; sometimes these are made with steel. You therefore have to wait a while to see if they rust. If they do, they can't be used for recycling."

Very often new utensils can't be made entirely from empty beverage cans, because the volume of liquid aluminium obtained from recycling is still too low. Foundries must therefore add other metals obtained from, for example, old or perforated pots and pans, broken door or window frames, car wheel rims and cylinder heads, or old sheet metal.

"We used to make buckets from empty milk tins. When I say 'used to' I mean in the 1980s, when I made a pot and kitchen equipment from my son's empty milk tins. These days however infant milk comes in tins that rust," another woman says.

Popularising beverage can recycling for producing kitchen utensils would be a good way to reduce the vandalism of road signs, lamp posts and electric cables. These are often stolen to be made into new products. The thieves have no thought for the disastrous consequences their thefts can have for others or even for themselves, as some have been electrocuted when trying to steal electric cables.

Nevertheless, it must be said that not everyone is enthusiastic about recycling empty beverage cans. There are voices denouncing the process because of the possible danger of eating meals cooked in pots and pans made with recycled aluminium.