US recycling rates rise again
The US recycling rate for aluminium cans reached 65.1% in 2011.
According to figures released by the Aluminium Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the rate jumped seven percentage points from 58.1% to 65.1%. That means 61 billion cans were recycled in 2011, a milestone that marks solid progress toward the industry’s goal of a 75% recycle rate. The higher recycling rate also secures the aluminium can’s position as the most recycled beverage container. Aluminum cans are recycled at a rate that is more than double that of any other beverage container.
“We are excited to have made strong progress toward our goal to increase the aluminium can recycling rate to 75%,” says Heidi Brock, president of the Aluminium Association. “We need the help of every American to continue to raise the rate. There is much more work still to be done here in the United States to reach our goal by 2015.” The Aluminium Association’s Can Committee, composed of Alcoa, Tri-Arrows Aluminum and Golden Aluminum, along with the entire can industry is committed to continuing efforts to increase the aluminium can recycling rate.
Aluminium cans not only have the highest recycling rate of all beverage packages, they also have the greatest amount of total recycled content – by far – an industry average of 68%.
Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute, added: “We are thrilled about the continued growth in aluminium can recycling rates. Metal can be used forever if we keep it out of landfills, and higher recycling rates benefit the economy, people and the planet, optimising the can’s environmental footprint.”
A large part of the increase in the recycling rate was driven by imports of used beverage containers; imports in 2011 increased approximately 25%, underscoring the need for improved recycling among US consumers as well as the value of aluminium. Because of a high demand for recycled aluminium cans in the US, the aluminium industry purchases UBCs from Mexico, Canada and other countries as many cans get shipped to those countries. Used cans have value, the highest of any material in the recycling stream, and are shipped into the US for melting and conversion into new cans. The Aluminium Association has included imported cans in its recycling rate since it began reporting in 1972. In the last several years, the steady increase in imports has become a more impactful factor to the overall recycling rate in the US.
