New research highlights value of aluminium beverage cans to America’s recycling system
New research has underlined the value that aluminium used beverage cans (UBC) bring to America’s recycling system.
A study conducted by Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc (GBB) for the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), Aluminum Beverage Can: Driver of the U.S. Recycling System, found that the relatively high value of UBCs make them essential to the country’s network of material recovery facilities (MRF). In fact, the report found that without the revenue from UBCs, most MRFs in the United States would not be able to operate without making significant changes that would ultimately affect the cost of recycling to consumers.
The study further shows that MRFs can generate additional revenue from UBCs with investments in aluminium can recycling equipment. This equipment effectively and efficiently captures mis-sorted cans and pays for itself in as short as one year, according to the new study. This equipment would reportedly increase MRF revenues by catching mis-sorted, highly valuable UBCs.
CMI commissioned the study to quantify the value of UBCs, as well as to detail where UBCs are mis-sorted at MRFs as single stream recyclables are separated, and to highlight the opportunity for individual MRFs to drive more revenue into the recycling system through installing additional aluminium beverage can capture equipment.
“The can industry produced approximately 95 billion aluminium beverage cans in 2019 that were filled with a variety of refreshing beverages including soft drinks, beer, teas and other thirst-quenching refreshments,” said CMI vice president of Sustainability, Scott Breen.
“The aluminium can is the textbook example of the circular economy because of its high recycled content (73%), its leading recycling rate among all beverage containers (50%), the fact that metal recycles forever and the vast majority of aluminium beverage cans get turned into new cans. The findings of this report help beverage companies and consumers understand that when they choose a can, not only are they choosing a sustainable, circular package, they are also doing their part to boost the US recycling system.”
Key to the conclusion that UBCs are vital to the economic viability of the recycling system, CMI reports, is that in non-deposit states, UBCs represent a larger portion of MRF revenues than any other single material commodity. UBCs represent 33% of a typical MRF’s revenue in states without container deposit laws (UBCs represent 12.5% of a typical MRF’s revenue in states with container deposit laws, which charge consumers a redeemable deposit at the point of sale), using 2019 recycled commodity values.
CMI’s ‘Cans Drive Recycling’ infographic
Properly sorting UBCs at MRFs can build upon the 45 billion aluminium beverage cans that annually flow through the aluminium beverage can’s existing circular system, says CMI. GBB estimated that up to 25% of UBCs entering MRFs are mis-sorted and do not end up in UBC bales. These mis-sorted cans represent the potential loss of aluminium that could have been recycled forever, as well as the loss of significant revenue. It is estimated that a medium to large MRF processing 50,000 tons of recyclables per year in a non-deposit law state may be losing up to 275 tons of UBCs per year (more than 18.5 million individual cans), due to improper sorting. If these cans were captured, CMI says the MRF would see an increase in gross annual revenues of $297,500 (approximately 8.3%) in a calendar year.
CMI reports that the aluminium can capture equipment currently available is effective and can pay for itself in a short period of time. The additional UBCs captured by a medium to large size MRF installing both an additional eddy current system on the MRF’s residue line and a robot on the MRF’s fibre line translates into an increase in annual gross revenues of roughly $170,000. This additional revenue would cover the additional capital cost of the equipment in just over two years. Moreover, CMI says that installing just an additional eddy current separator increases annual gross revenues roughly $100,000 and pays for itself in about one year.
“Many MRF operators are likely unaware of the true amount of losses they are incurring from improperly sorted UBCs,” said Breen. “This report provides a compelling case for MRF operators and investors to put capital toward additional aluminium can capture equipment that will pay for itself in a short period of time. Installing more of this equipment means more revenue for the MRF, more cans captured to be recycled into new cans and a healthier overall recycling system.”
“This report unearths key insights about the amount of valuable aluminium commodities that are not currently being recovered for recycling, which highlights the need to bolster access and improve messaging to capture more aluminium throughout the United States,” said Jon Powell, vice president at Closed Loop Partners. “Further, the report underscores the critical need to invest in aluminum can capture technology at MRFs and how these upgrades can boost the overall economics of the recycling system. Closing the loop on valuable materials, like aluminum, is a critical part of building a more circular economy.”
The full report can be found on the sustainability section of CMI’s website.
A webinar focused on the findings of the Aluminum Beverage Can Driving the U.S. Recycling System will take place on 16 July 2020 at 2pm ET. Along with CMI, organisations speaking include GBB, Closed Loop Partners, Eureka Recycling, Single Stream Recyclers and US Department of Energy.
