RECYCLING MAKES MORE SENSE THAN EVER. You'd have a hard time finding a reason why NOT to recycle bottles and cans. After all, if you throw them away, it's a waste of natural resources, a waste of energy and a waste of money. An aluminum can, for example, can sit in a landfill taking decades to decompose, or it can be recycled and be back on the shelf in about 90 days, thereby: Reducing the need for virgin bauxite ore Saving enough energy to run a television for almost three hours Putting cash in the pocket of the person who took it to the recycling center