Alcoa Recycling

Beverage Show Interbev Learns Positive Sustainability Story of Aluminum Cans, Bottles, and Wheels

Two Alcoa business units are participating in the largest beverage show in North America this week,  Interbev.  The Rigid Packaging Group, known as "the can guys" by Alcoans are there to learn more about what's new in the beverage industry, connect with emerging beverage categories on innovative aluminum packaging like the Aluminum bottle, and also to make sure the positive sustainability story of aluminum packaging, has a presence. 

Alcoa RPD's Marketing Communications Manager, Allison Buchanan will be speaking on Can Sustainability and participating in a panel sponsored by CMI on Thursday along with an industry  recycling  expert, and municipality representative.

Follow Allison's updates on Alcoa's Twitter.

The Alcoa Wheels group will be exhibitors at the show this year with an eye catching booth design communicating the multitude of benefits aluminum wheels can provide over steel for the beverage distribution fleets.

Both groups will be actively spreading the good word on sustainability and infinite recyclability of aluminum to the beverage industry, whether it is used for wheels on their trucks or packages to differentiate their beverages.

Recycling 101: Schools Turn to Recycling to Raise Funds

It’s an annual rite of passage. With the start of the new school year, parents and administrators search for creative ways to raise money to support school programs. 

Recycling aluminum cans is becoming an increasingly popular (and environmentally-friendly) fund-raising choice for schools across the country. Whether you choose to launch an ongoing recycling program or hold a monthly recycling drive, collecting aluminum cans can help you raise money – and teach students a valuable lesson about the environmental benefits that come from recycling. 

Get students involved in recycling aluminum cans from home and spreading the word to friends and neighbors. Many city and state recycling associations provide recycling bins to make it easier to collect aluminum cans at school and in the community.

With more than 100,000 aluminum cans are recycled every minute in the United States, it’s no wonder that schools have recognized the fund-raising potential. And perhaps best of all, it doesn’t require children to go door-to-door selling candy, wrapping paper or magazines.

Send us a note to share your school's recycling success stories.

The Most Recycled Beverage Container in America

New statistics released this week show that the aluminum can remains the most recycled beverage container in America.  That won’t come as a surprise to those who closely follow recycling – aluminum is most recyclable packaging material in the world and the most value material in the recycling stream. 

The bigger surprise was that U.S. recycling rates for aluminum cans climbed to 57.4 percent in 2009, the biggest jump in the past 10 years.  Americans recycled nearly 55.5 billion aluminum cans in 2009, an increase of nearly 2.3 billion cans over 2008 figures.

Alcoa and the Aluminum Association have embarked on a campaign to increase U.S. recycling rates to 75 percent by 2015 – a goal that can be achieved if every American recycles just one additional can each week.  With the increase in aluminum can recycling, the United States is already closing in on Europe, which recycles 63.1 percent of aluminum cans.

“Aluminum cans continue to provide our customers and consumers with an exceptional environmental package of choice.  The infinite recyclability of aluminum compounds its sustainable benefits,” said Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute.  A recycled can used 95% less energy and produces 95% fewer greenhouse gas emissions that creating a can from new metal.  

Click here to read more from the Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.

It's Game Day for College Football Recycling

The college football season kicks off this weekend and schools across the country are mobilizing to make it easy for fans to recycle aluminum cans and other materials.

The University of Georgia has a wildly successful group of student volunteers that distribute recycling bags, educate tailgaters and collect recycling at the stadium entrances.  During a game against South Carolina last season, the Gameday Recycling crew collected 8,600 pounds of recyclable materials.

Ohio State boasts one of the nation’s largest football stadiums, attracting more than 100,000 fans each week.  Since 2007, the Buckeyes have recycled more than 253 tons of trash from football games, with an average recycling rate of 41%.  

Most major college football programs – including Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, North Carolina and others – have similar recycling programs.  And many other schools, including Kansas and Wake Forest, have launched new recycling programs this year.  Students at the University of Kansas have teamed up with the athletic department to promote recycling at tailgates near Memorial Stadium.  They hope to collect 1,000 pounds of aluminum cans at each home game and donate the proceeds to local charities.

Tell us what your favorite college football team is doing to encourage recycling...