Plastic or cans? How about both?

So I thought I was improving on some level on the environmental scale by eschewing plastic in favor of aluminum cans for my soda fix. After all, cans are fixed portions and are more easily recyclable.

Then I read this on the BBC "Month without Plastic" blog:

That aluminium can is not only metal, your cardboard drinks carton is more than just cardboard and a disposable coffee cup is unlikely to be mere cardboard and wax. ...

In the case of aluminium fizzy drinks cans, the lacquer lining is to stop the acid in the beverage from eating into the metal which would weaken the can and taint the drink.

As shown on the website of colourful US television science presenter Steve Spangler, it is possible to dissolve the outside of the can to reveal the thin polymer (resin) inner.

However, this does not affect aluminium's status as one of the most fully recyclable materials.

Furthermore, the lacquers are burnt off in the recycling process and the resulting gasses used to help power the furnace.

Cartons used for juice, milk, soup and other liquids are made up from layers of paperboard and low density polyethylene (LDPE).

It's more than a little disturbing how much plastic has infiltrated out lives. Even my soda isn't safe! One more reason to add to the list why I should be a little more serious about giving it up.