Photo by JosephLeonardo.

Suddenly, I feel much better about having never consumed a can of Four Loko. After several different states around the country banned the alcoholic energy drinks over the course of 2010, many — including Virginia — are sending cases of the beverage to be recycled. Into fuel. For cars.

The AP reported yesterday on the recycling of the beverage, which the Food and Drug Administration claims makes those who consume it “wide-awake drunk”:

MXI [Environmental Services in Virginia] distills the alcohol from the drinks, then sells the fuel to be blended into gasoline, Potter said. It sells the aluminum cans to a recycler. Potter estimated it takes “30 days until it’s back on the shelf as another beer can.” It also recycles the drinks’ water, cardboard packaging and shipping pallets.

“These are actually things that could go directly into a landfill or incinerator or some other waste process that’s not as environmentally friendly, so I think it’s a good thing,” he said.

Worried about the fate of all those gallons of banned caffeine-laced, neon-colored Four Loko? Apparently, “truckloads” of the verboten booze are being converted into ethanol, a reputedly green energy source that’s facing mounting bipartisan criticism for being harmful to vehicles and to the environment.

Mmmmmm! Nothing says nutritious like putting something that’s one step removed from powering vehicles into your body, am I right?