Alcoa Recycling

U.S. Postal Service Brings Paper Recycling to Post Office Lobbies

The "Three Rs" are taking on a more modern meaning as the U.S. Postal Service makes it easier for Post Office box customers across the country to recycle their mail.

"Read, Respond, Recycle" is the banner under which the Postal Service will reach out to postal customers with a convenient, environmentally responsible alternative to bringing home or discarding their mail.

The Postal Service has a long and proud environmental record, and annually recycles more than 1 million tons of paper, plastic and other materials.  The Post Office Box Lobby Recycling program builds on the tremendous success of similar programs that have been ongoing in the northeast part of the United States for more than 10 years. 

The PO Box Lobby Recycling program places secure recycling bins in Post Office lobbies.  All bins are locked with a key and the opening is slim-- about the width of a news magazine.  PO Box customers are encouraged to remove and open their mail (read), take whatever action is necessary (respond) and simply place any unwanted mail into the bin (recycle). 

Read more about this program on the US Postal Service's website. 

Georgia Tech Student's Creation Cools Aluminum Can in 15 Seconds

An innovation competition called InVenture Prize for Georgia Tech undergraduates resulted in the creation of a contraption that cools an aluminum beverage can in a mere 15 seconds!  Visit InVenture Prize's website and look to the right of the screen to click and view this invention. 

Alcoa Recycling Supplies Holiday Shoppers with Recycling Bins

On Saturday, December 6 from 9am-11am Alcoa Recycling representatives distributed our custom made Alcoa recycling bins to interested shoppers at West Town Mall.  Approximately 50 recycling bins were handed out to mall shoppers who signed pledge cards affirming they would do their part to recycle at home and work. 

In addition to shoppers, recycling bins were given to some of the mall merchants as well as the mall's management office, which plans to use the bins in their daily operations.  This recycling bin distribution is one of several that Alcoa Recycling has scheduled in the Knoxville area to spark interest for people to begin recycling into their lifestyles. The Knoxville Recycling Coalition(KRC) joined us for this event and provided their helpful 2009 Recycling Guide with each bin so that people can be fully aware of their local recycling opportunities. Many thanks to KRC for their continued help with our distributions!

Boston Tries to Compel Waste Haulers to Offer Recycling Services

A measure passed by Boston City Councilors will compel commercial waste haulers, operating in Beantown, to offer recycling services to its customers or risk losing their licenses.  Approved by a voice vote, the likelihood of the bill's enactment is high, as Mayor Thomas Menino helped craft the bill and is expected to sign it. 

A measure that more than likely will help the city to approve upon its current nine percent diversion rate, under the proposed ordinance, haulers permitted to work in Boston would have to offer customers a recycling option and provide informational material about their program, as well as educational materials about recycling. 

Non-compliant haulers would be fined $150 for the initial offense and $300 for the second, with the possibility of also losing their ability to work in Boston as of the second offense.  The ordinance reinforces a state landfill ban on recyclable materials, too.

Information on story from Resource Recycling magazine.

TN Governor and TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation Awards 19 Recycling Grants

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Jim Fyke announced that 19 recycling equipment grants have been awarded for projects to help reduce landfill waste across Tennessee.  These grants total more than $417,000.

Recycling equipment grants may be used to purchase equipment for new recycling programs, improve and expand the operation of an existing site or prepare recyclable materials for transport and marketing.  Grants may be awarded to counties, cities, non-profit recycling organizations and solid waste authorities across Tennessee to help reach or exceed the goals set forth in the Solid Waste Management  Act of 1991.  Each recipient is required to match the state grant on a sliding scale basis.  Local matching funds toward these 19 projects total nearly $167,500. 

For more information on this story, check out TDEC's full announcement. 

Today's Aluminum Pricing Information

Based on today’s London Metal Exchange market, the retail price for used beverage cans is $.10-.15 per pound.  The day’s wholesale price for mills is ranging from $.34-.38 per pound.  The retail price refers to the amount charged to store customers, such as at a scrap metal buy-back center.  The wholesale price describes the amount paid by large sheet mills buying large quantities of used beverage cans. 

Disclaimer:
• Wholesale Prices shown are indicative prices only, and are not an offer to buy from Alcoa or its representatives.
• Prices are for used aluminum beverage cans in bales or briquettes in truckload lots delivered to aluminum sheet mills in the USA.
• Quality specifications are subject to the unique requirements of each mill.
• Retail Prices are indicative prices only, and are not an offer to buy from Alcoa or its representatives.
• Prices are for loose or flattened used aluminum beverages cans delivered to local scrap buyers.
• Quality and prices will vary by region and sellers are advised to consult with local scrap buyers for specific market conditions.

Be Entertained by Cool Recycling Commercial

A few years ago the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance coordinated a contest for recycling commercials as part of their on-going effort to highlight the importance of recycling.  Check out this winning commercial entitled, "Mr. Mutton's Chops Figures It Out."

Video Clip about Success of 'Cans for Cash' Program in Indiana

The Cans for Cash program mentioned on our blog posting from November 26 received some on-air news coverage from a local news station in Evansville, Indiana.  The news station covered the story of a local citizen, Jim Schroeder,  who has spent the last 28 years operating a can collectors club in which friends, relatives, and community members drop off their empty aluminum cans at his house for recycling. 

Jim sells the collected cans to a local metal buy-back facility.  He has used the funds generated from this program to send all four of his children through college, and now that they have graduated he donates his proceeds to charities.  Learn more about this man's story of turning cans into cash by viewing the news clip. 

Alcoa teamed up with Keep Evansville Beautiful to promote the Cans for Cash challenge which was designed to encourage local citizens to support local organizations through recycling. 

Today's Aluminum Pricing Information

Based on today’s London Metal Exchange market, the retail price for used beverage cans is $.10-.15 per pound.  The day’s wholesale price for mills is ranging from $.39-.43 per pound.  The retail price refers to the amount charged to store customers, such as at a scrap metal buy-back center.  The wholesale price describes the amount paid by large sheet mills buying large quantities of used beverage cans. 

Disclaimer:
• Wholesale Prices shown are indicative prices only, and are not an offer to buy from Alcoa or its representatives.
• Prices are for used aluminum beverage cans in bales or briquettes in truckload lots delivered to aluminum sheet mills in the USA.
• Quality specifications are subject to the unique requirements of each mill.
• Retail Prices are indicative prices only, and are not an offer to buy from Alcoa or its representatives.
• Prices are for loose or flattened used aluminum beverages cans delivered to local scrap buyers.
• Quality and prices will vary by region and sellers are advised to consult with local scrap buyers for specific market conditions.