USA – aluminium beverage can recycling rate rising; first time since 1997

The Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) has released statistics indicating that Americans and the can recycling industries recycled 51.5 billion aluminium cans in 2004, for a beverage can recycling rate of 51.2 per cent. This reflects a 1.2 per cent increase over the 2003 rate and the first increase since 1997.



The aluminium beverage can is the most recycled consumer beverage container in the United States. It amounts to more than twice the recycling rate for beverage packages of other materials.



Recycling is offered through kerbside pick-up to approximately half of Americans, through drop off and “buy back” centres located in most towns, and by donating cans to charitable organizations.



The aluminium beverage can is 100 per cent recyclable into new beverage cans indefinitely. Aluminium can recycling helps fund the entire collection system. The aluminium can is the only packaging material that more than covers the cost of collection and re- processing for itself. It also helps subsidize the collection of other recyclable materials.



Recycling saves energy



Recycling 40 aluminium beverage cans has the energy-saving equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. During 2004, Americans recycled enough aluminium cans to conserve the energy equivalent of over 15 million barrels of oil.



The Aluminum Association and CMI formed a joint committee called, the Aluminum Can Council (ACC) to explore and implement new programs to increase consumer interest in aluminium cans and recycling.



The ACC‘‘s Kerbside Value Partnership program is helping communities promote kerbside recycling to households, and their systems with value-based measurement for tracking improvement.



Other ACC programmes include can advertising, recycling promotion, student environmental education programs, school and civic organization collection programs, and other projects. The ACC recognizes and promotes the value and importance of recycling.



The aluminium can is a leader in recycling and has been for more than 20 years. In the United States, 100.5 billion cans were produced in 2004. 51.5 billion aluminium cans were recycled, equalling some 1.51 billion pounds