Buying a drink in a can, glass bottle or plastic container? Find out which one is better for the planet

Australians buy billions of drink containers every year, but few people stop to ask a simple question when choosing between a can, plastic bottle or glass bottle: which one actually gets recycled most effectively?
 

According to Maddy Gupta, founder and CEO of Manhari Recycling, the answer may surprise many consumers.
 

"People often assume all packaging is recycled equally, but that's simply not the case," Maddy Gupta said.
 

"When it comes to recycling efficiency and environmental impact, aluminium cans are one of the most powerful materials in the circular economy."
 

Maddy Gupta said understanding what happens after a container is placed in the recycling bin can help Australians make better choices about the products they buy every day.
 

Billions of containers every year
 

Australia consumes enormous volumes of packaged drinks each year.
 

More than three billion aluminium drink cans are sold annually across the country, while billions more beverages are sold in plastic and glass containers.
 

Container deposit schemes across Australia now see more than seven billion bottles and cans returned every year, highlighting both the scale of consumption and the potential for recycling.
 

Globally, the numbers are even more staggering. Around 350,000 aluminium cans are produced every minute worldwide.
 

"That shows just how important recycling is," Maddy Gupta said.
 

"These containers don't just disappear when we throw them away. They either become landfill or they become a valuable resource."
 

What actually happens to a Coke can
 

When a Coke can goes into a recycling bin in Australia, it begins a surprisingly fast and efficient journey.

The container is transported to a materials recovery facility where advanced sorting machines separate aluminium from plastic, glass and cardboard using magnets, sensors and eddy current technology.
 

The cans are then compressed into large bales and sent to specialist recycling facilities where they are shredded, cleaned and melted in furnaces.
 

The molten aluminium is cast into large blocks known as ingots before being rolled into thin sheets used to manufacture brand new cans.
 

"In many cases, a recycled aluminium can can be back on supermarket shelves as another drink can in as little as 60 days," Maddy Gupta said.
 

"Aluminium can be recycled again and again without losing quality, which is incredibly powerful."
 

Why aluminium stands out
 

One of the key advantages of aluminium is that it can be recycled indefinitely.
 

Recycling aluminium also uses up to 95 per cent less energy than producing new aluminium from raw bauxite ore. That makes cans one of the most environmentally efficient beverage containers available. Recycling just one aluminium can saves enough energy to power a television for around three hours.
 

"From both an environmental and economic perspective, aluminium is an incredibly valuable material," Maddy Gupta said.
 

"That's why it's actively collected and traded around the world."
 

Glass and plastic tell a different story
 

Glass bottles can also be recycled multiple times, but they are significantly heavier than aluminium cans, making them more energy-intensive to transport and process.
 

Plastic bottles are widely used because they are lightweight and cheap to manufacture, but recycling outcomes can vary depending on the type of plastic and contamination levels.
 

"Plastic recycling can be more complicated because there are many different types of plastic," Maddy Gupta said.
 

"If materials are contaminated or mixed incorrectly, they may not be recycled at all."
 

Maddy Gupta said that while all packaging materials have a role to play, aluminium cans often perform strongly in recycling systems because they are easy to identify, easy to separate and retain their value.
 

The biggest factor in recycling success
 

Despite sophisticated recycling technology, Maddy Gupta said the biggest factor determining whether containers are successfully recycled is consumer behaviour.

"Something as simple as placing a can or bottle in the recycling bin rather than general waste can make a huge difference," he said.
 

"If every Australian recycled just one additional drink container each day, billions more containers could be diverted from landfill every year."
 

Maddy Gupta said improving awareness about recycling can help strengthen Australia's circular economy.
 

"People often think recycling is complicated, but it really starts with simple choices and sometimes the most powerful choice is as simple as choosing the can," Maddy Gupta said.
 

About Manhari Recycling
 

Founded in 2007 by Maddy Gupta, Manhari Recycling is one of Victoria's largest and most trusted scrap metal recycling companies. With operations spanning nearly five hectares across Tottenham, Horsham and Ararat, Manhari processes over 250,000 metric tons of metal annually and exports to major manufacturing markets worldwide. The company offers comprehensive services including auto recycling, whitegoods disposal, construction scrap recovery and e-waste processing. Committed to innovation, sustainability and customer service, Manhari is evolving into a leader in circular economy solutions, helping industry and community reduce waste, recover value and build a cleaner, greener future for Victoria.
 

To get a free quote or book a pick-up, visit www.manhari.com.au