You finish your canned drink and get ready to throw it out. a garbage can is right nearby, but the recycling bin is a few more steps. should you bother to recycle aluminum cans? does it really make a difference? remember that most electrical energy in the u.s. is generated from fuels that contribute to global climate change. so, when you recycle an aluminum can, about how much energy is saved compared to the amount needed to make a new can from scratch?