One aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours-or equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline. An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now. There is no limit to the amount of times that an aluminum can be recycled. Reuse keeps goods and materials out of the waste stream. It also reduced the strain on valuable resources such as fuel, forests, and water supplies, and helps safeguard wildlife habitats. Reuse creates an affordable supply of goods that are often of excellent quality. The recycling process starts with scrap metal. Scrap metals are collected from disposed vehicles, consumers items (such as cans), and industrial products. The metals are sent to sorting agents who separate the metals by type and composition, to keep like metals together.