Alcoa Recycling

Aluminum Can Reclamation Report: June 2010

Recycling rates dipped slightly in June after rising for four consectutive months.

The latest surveys from the Aluminum Association show that 106.6 million pounds of used beverage cans were reclaimed in June. That represents a 7.3% decline from May figures and a 22.6% drop from June 2009 figures.

 

Aluminum Foil Recycling is on the rise in Europe

In 2008, the recycling rate was reaching 45 percent but the The European Aluminum Foil Association (EAFA) is now reporting that recent statistics are showing a new trend.  There is an upward rise in the recycling of aluminum foil from trays and semi-rigid containers.

The association attributes the increase to a greater understanding of the benefits in recycling by providing more sustainable packaging options.  To coagulate this effort in recycling history, the EAFA has joined with the Organisation of European Aluminium Refiners and Remelters (OEA).

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Student Videos Demonstrate Passion, Need for Increased Recycling

When Alcoa and the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) challenged college students to create videos about college recycling, they responded with educational, informative and entertaining videos that showed the need for increased recycling on college campuses.

St. John’s University won the video contest – and 1,000 recycling bins from Alcoa Recycling to help the college achieve their goals.  Watch the video to see how St. John’s determined that 78% of its trash could be recycled:

You can watch the second place video from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the third place video from SUNY College at Old Westbury.  Rensselaer Polytechnic received 600 recycling bins from Alcoa, and SUNY Old Westbury received 400 bins.

Congratulations to all of the schools that participated in the video contest.  We are proud to share your passion and commitment to recycling.

Europe recycles nearly 2/3 of all aluminum cans

The latest statistics show that Europe continues to outpace the United States in the recycling of aluminum cans.  The European Union (EU), a collection of 27 counties primarily located in Europe, has increased its overall recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans to 63.1%.  The current US recycling rate for aluminum cans in 54.2%, but Alcoa and the Aluminum Association have launched a campaign to increase that rate to 75% by 2015.   

The 2008 EU figures represent a 5.4 increase – equal to a carbon savings of 310,00 tons – over the past two years.

The use of aluminum beverage cans continues to rise among EU counties, particularly in Western European.  Europe’s total consumption of aluminum cans reached 38 billion in 2008, accounting for more than 70% of the total European market for beverage cans.

Recycling rates for individual countries show a clear upward trend.  Twenty one of the 27 countries successfully recycle at least 50% of aluminum beverage cans and 11 countries have recycling rates of 75% or higher.  

We’re hopeful that the US hit that target in the next five years.  All it takes is for every person to recycle one more aluminum can each week.

Kim Kardashian sports Eclipse themed aluminum water bottles

Team Edward or Team Jacob? That’s the biggest debate between tweens, teens and adults who are enamored with Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga.   The newest installment, Eclipse, sparked a line of themed aluminum water bottles.  Although you can purchase them for their functionality, most people will to display their allegiance to which team they are on.

The one-liter aluminum bottles are sleek, stunning and feature images of Edward, Bella and Jacob.  They are also a great way to recycle and not buy endless plastic water bottles.  Celebs like Kim Kardashian and Tori Spelling also favor the bottles. Check out which Kim favors on UsMagazine.com.

You can order the bottles for $9.99 or the set for $24.99 at www.eclipsebottles.com

The “King” of a Million Cans

In Leverett, Massachusetts, Gordon King, a retired University of Massachusetts professor, was recently honored with the title of “King of a Million Cans”.  With the help of other residents, he collected and recycled more than one million cans and bottles in the last 20 years resulting in more than $50,000 for the preservation of town land.

King and the late Dave Field came up with the idea of collecting bottles and cans to raise money for the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust, which is a conservation group created over 20 years ago.

King, who is 91, said the town needed money to help buy land.

Once more people became interested and the idea took hold, they used a spot that was previously the town dump to build a shed that is now the transfer station for people to leave their contributions.  The overflow was stored in King’s barn.  He would bring the bottles and cans to the recycling centers.

The Rattlesnake Gutter Trust now oversees 16 parcels and 468 acres in diverse habitats all over town.

Read more in The Republican

Aluminum Can Reclamation Report: May 2010

The latest surveys from the Aluminum Association show a continued rise in the reclamation of used beverage cans in May 2010. The figures show that 114.9 million pounds of used beverage cans were reclaimed in May -- a 4.8% increase over the 109.6 million pounds reclaimed in April 2010.

The May figures, however, are 6.9% lower than reclamation figures for May 2009.

For the year, a total of 492.4 million pounds have been reclaimed. That is down 8.6 % from 2009.