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Does anyone know how I could get my hands on large numbers of aluminum cans, preferably for free? I'm willing to go to a landfill and hand pick them out, if that's what it takes. I plan to clean them, use chemistry to extract the aluminum metal from the plastic liner, and make castings with them.
It depends where you're located and if your state has a refund on cans and bottles or not. You may try bars or sports / outdoor / college events where they serve beer.
I set up three 55 gallon plastic barrels at work a few months ago. One is for aluminum cans, one is for glass bottles, and one is for plastic bottles. It made people happy because so many want to recycle these days. They are really into it.
Maine is a beverage bottle deposit state so each aluminum can & plastic bottle is worth five cents. Glass beer bottles are five cents. Larger wine & hard liquor bottles are worth fifteen cents.
It's a community fund raiser for worthwhile public causes like the library, scholarships for the graduating High school seniors going on to college, the Boy scouts ... etc. We've raised about five grand over the last six months.
CopperMiner's idea is good. Put out an aluminum can recycling barrel and people will probably fill it.