The Alumina Chronicles:
Aluminum Recycling By Consumers
In The United States Of America
May/June of 2019
Bales of aluminum cans await recycling in the United States.
(Photograph is provided courtesy of The Recycling Partnership.)
Consumers in the United States are a key part of the aluminum industry. Literally.
Without the recycling efforts of average consumers, new sources of the raw ingredients for aluminum production would need to be secured annually. Costs would increase throughout the industry.
But while recycling is important today, the potential for further improvements in the recycling of aluminum products is substantial. Costs could be reduced even further. As a side benefit, environmental aspects could be enhanced.
Consumers in the United States utilize a variety of aluminum products in their day-to-day lives.
“The most common [products used by consumers] are aluminum beverage cans and transportation vehicles (cars, trucks, boats, trains, and airplanes),” stated Ms. Meg Morris, Past President of MassRecycle, a statewide non-profit coalition dedicated to increasing recycling and waste reduction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “Other household goods include rain gutters and aluminum lawn furniture. It’s also used in other household products, like foil trays [as well as] more and more electronic devices, but beverage cans and vehicles are what are most common.”
During the last few decades, Americans have been encouraged to recycle a variety of products.
Today, most of the aluminum recycling done by consumers involves aluminum cans.
According to Mr. Scott Mouw, Senior Director of Strategy and Research of The Recycling Partnership, “data indicates that the average American home generates about 20 pounds of aluminum cans per year, although there can be significant differences between low can and high can generators.”
The recycling rates of aluminum cans by consumers, though, has decreased in recent years.
In Year 2016 (the most recent year for statistics on consumer recycling rates), 49.4% of all aluminum cans were recycled by consumers, according to a report issued by The Aluminum Association.
But that rate is substantially less than what it was in the three previous years.
In Year 2015, 54.5% of all aluminum cans were recycled by consumers. In Year 2014, the rate was 56.7%. In Year 2013, the rate was 54.9%.
No one is exactly sure why the recycling rates of aluminum cans have decreased in recent years.
“Like most recycled commodities, aluminum prices have declined in recent years,” according to a statement from The Aluminum Association. “This drop in scrap price may have prompted sellers to hold onto the metal longer, waiting for prices to recover. When coupled with an even sharper decline in the all-in price for aluminum (London Metal Exchange + U.S. Midwest Premium), scrap consumers may have also had more incentive to purchase and substitute other metal sources (primary or other secondary aluminum) into their stream. The rate provides a snapshot of how well municipal recycling programs are performing nationwide though it can still be impacted by year-to-year fluctuations in metal flows and commodity prices.”
While consumer recycling rates for aluminum cans has waned, the recycling rates of aluminum products by other segments has been substantially higher.
“It’s important to understand that in most other markets (industrial markets rather than consumer markets) the recycling rates tend to be in the 90 percent+ range,” stated Mr. Matt Meenan, Senior Director of Public Affairs of The Aluminum Association.
Mr. Meenan also noted that aluminum recycling rates by consumers are significantly higher than for other types of products, like glass and plastic containers. “Aluminum cans remain by far the most recycled beverage package in the United States with a 10 to 20 point recycling rate advantage against glass and plastic,” according to The Aluminum Association.
Scrap aluminum metal is seen in the above photograph at the Constellium facility
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Constellium is a global manufacturer of aluminum
products with operations in the United States. The photograph below shows scrap
aluminum metal being melted prior to ingot casting at the same facility.
(Both photographs are provided courtesy of Constellium.)
Two of the problems for aluminum recycling by consumers are convenience and accessibility.
Ms. Morris of MassRecycle noted that in many communities “curbside single-stream recycling [programs] only [collect aluminum] beverage cans and foil.” She explained that in many communities, “all other aluminum household products…[have to] be taken to a local municipal drop-off center and/or a scrap metal yard.”
“As we build/rehab more multifamily housing, we don't necessarily build recycling collection infrastructure into the building sites,” noted Ms. Morris. “Many [apartment]…buildings, condos, etc. have limited or no recycling collection bins. In that case, the resident must return them to the store or haul them to another collection point, making it more difficult especially in areas of high population density and reliance on public transportation.”
“All aluminum [products] can be and should be recycled as it is considered a sustainable metal in that it does not lose any of its properties through the recycling process,” stated Ms. Morris. “[Aluminum]…can be repeatedly recycled into new products.”
There are several techniques utilized in the United States to encourage consumer recycling.
Fund-raising by local charities is one method used in many communities. The charities have the incentive to collect, typically, aluminum cans that can be sold to recycling centers. This provides a source of funding for the charities. Consumers feel good about helping the environment and, at the same time, helping their local charities.
Educational efforts also seem to increase aluminum recycling among consumers. Informing people about what items can be recycled is a key part of those educational efforts.
“Some consumers are unsure about the recyclability of aluminum aerosol cans,” stated Mr. Scott McCarty, Director of Strategic Communications at Ball Beverage Packaging North & Central America. “More education around that topic will help…[Aerosol cans] can absolutely be recycled when empty.”
Sometimes, unfortunately, people only listen to part of the educational efforts.
“Once we’ve told people that aluminum is easily recycled, they put everything that they even think is aluminum into their curbside bins,” stated Ms. Morris of MassRecycle. The problem is that sometimes, those products are not easily recycled or are not being recycled by the recycling processing centers in specific communities.
One technique that seems to increase the rate of aluminum recycling by consumers is through governmental regulations. In this case, governmental regulations that appeal to the financial interests of consumers.
Ten American states (plus Guam) have what are sometimes called “container deposit laws” or “bottle bills”. These are laws that mandate that retailers charge consumers a deposit fee in addition to the cost of a specific product. The deposits range from 2 cents to 15 cents, depending on the locale, the type of product, and the size of container. The consumer is able to get their deposit back by returning the specific container when no longer needed by the consumer.
To give you a perspective of the impact of these laws, consider that while “representing just a quarter of all consumption, more than 40 percent of the aluminum cans recycled in the United States come from the ten container deposit states,” explained Mr. Meenan of The Aluminum Association.
These “bottle bills” have primarily focused on aluminum and glass containers, though some states also include other types of containers in their laws.
One might wonder if these “bottle bills” are so successful in increasing consumer recycling rates, why haven’t all of the American states and commonwealths implemented such laws.
In some cases, there is opposition from people who do not want further governmental intrusions in their lives. In other cases, there is opposition from retailers who do not want to be burdened with additional responsibilities.
But there has also been opposition within the aluminum recycling industry. Specifically, among some entities that process recyclable products.
Ms. Morris of MassRecycle noted that in “the recycling processing industry, there is a preference for disbanding the bottle bills and allowing people to put…[aluminum cans] in their recycling bins.Why? Because…aluminum is the most financially viable of all the recyclables currently and the recycling industry rightfully uses this aluminum revenue stream to offset the cost of managing the other recyclables which have low revenue or even a cost.”
Sheets of aluminum are seen here at Ball Beverage Packaging in Golden, Colorado.
These sheets are then transformed into aluminum cans by Ball for use by beverage companies.
(Photographs are provided courtesy of Ball Corporation.)
Aluminum recycling by consumers is critical within the aluminum industry.
Recycling of aluminum is one of those efforts within the industry that has little downside.
If recycling levels by consumers were to increase, costs could be reduced further, natural resources could be sustained for longer periods of time, and as costs decrease, new uses for aluminum could be developed.
According to Ms. Morris of MassRecycle, “recycling aluminum saves electricity and natural resources (bauxite ore). Recycling aluminum saves between 90-95% of the energy that would be needed to make the same aluminum from virgin bauxite ore. A pound of aluminum cans…saves about 7 kWh of energy. Experts agree that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a television on for about 3 hours.”
The Recycling Partnership concurs with MassRecycle.
“It takes a tremendous amount of energy to create aluminum from raw ore; making aluminum from recycled material takes about 90% less energy,” stated Mr. Mouw of The Recycling Partnership. “Because of those energy benefits, aluminum recycling demands the use of far fewer fossil fuels and thus contributes substantially to the reduction of greenhouse gases.”
Manufacturers of consumer aluminum products are also among those that strongly encourage recycling of their products.
“Ball Corporation is the largest producer of aluminum beverage packaging in the world,” according to Mr. McCarty of Ball Beverage Packaging. “That includes aluminum cans, bottles, and ends. Ball also is a leading manufacturer of aluminum aerosol cans and aluminum slugs.”
“All of Ball’s aluminum products – both beverage and aerosol – are infinitely recyclable by consumers,” stated Mr. McCarty. “Aluminum cans are the most valuable containers in the recycling stream, often subsidizing the recycling of other packages with little or no value.”
“We make aluminum beverage cans for the most recognized beverage brands in the world,” stated Mr. Claude Marbach, Chief Executive Officer of Ardagh Metal - North America. “Ardagh manufactures aluminum beverage cans for leading consumer beverage brands across such categories as soft drinks, beer, energy drinks, spirits and sparkling water. We have operations across the globe, including eight manufacturing locations in the United States.”
“Ardagh secures aluminum from leading aluminum sheet manufacturers,” Mr. Marbach continued. “We receive the sheets of the aluminum of which we then convert to beverage cans for our customers. The aluminum sheet producers have, on average, more than 70% recycled content in the sheets they provide converters.”
“All of our aluminum beverage cans are recyclable,” explained Mr. Marbach. “In fact, aluminum beverage cans are 100% infinitely recyclable, as recycled cans can appear back on store shelves in their original form within 60 days.”
One of the largest users of aluminum in the consumer market is Anheuser-Busch.
“We utilize aluminum containers in multiple sizes, shapes, and configurations,” stated Mr. Tim Popp, Vice President of Sales at Metal Container Corporation, a can manufacturing subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch. “Our primary containers are standard 12 and 16 oz. cans. Sleek and 25 oz. cans represent our faster growing profile segments. Finally, we utilize both pry and twist top aluminum bottles.”
According to the website of Anheuser-Busch, Metal Container Corporation “supplies more than 45 percent of Anheuser-Busch’s U. S. beer cans and 55 percent of its domestic lids. The operation also produces cans and lids for major U. S. soft drink companies including PepsiCo [and] Coca-Cola.”
“We recognize there is a huge opportunity to help protect the environment and inspire others to do so as well,” continued Mr. Popp. “One of our key sustainability goals is to have 100% of packaging be made from a majority of recycled content or returnable by 2025. That said, approximately 70% of the aluminum sheet we use to make our containers is recycled content.”
In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, finished cans are being prepped for delivery to a customer of
Ardagh Metal – North America. The company reports that about 70% of the content of the
aluminum sheets used to manufacture these cans comes from recycled aluminum.
(The photograph is provided courtesy of Ardagh Metal – North America.)
A number of businesses in the aluminum industry actively participate in recycling efforts within their operations as well as in the communities where their facilities are situated.
“Constellium works internally with our employees to encourage recycling within our operations,” stated Ms. Delphine Dahan-Kocher, Vice President – Public Affairs and Communications, North America for Constellium, a global manufacturer of aluminum products. “We recycle not only aluminum products, but also glass, plastic, and other products. In addition, we promote recycling by consumers through several industry-supported organizations.”
“Our employees and plants around the world collect postconsumer aluminum beverage cans as part of an annual companywide recycling program and as part of local community engagement efforts,” explained Mr. McCarty of Ball Beverage Packaging. “For instance, our plants in Findlay, Ohio, and Rome, Georgia, coordinate community can recycling drives and use proceeds to award recycling scholarships to local students. In the regions in which we operate, we also work with various nonprofit organizations…to increase awareness of the benefits of recycling and consumer participation in recycling efforts in their communities.”
Leaders within the aluminum industry see great potential for additional recycling by consumers.
According to a statement from The Aluminum Association, “in 2016, 44.5 billion cans – $760 million worth of aluminum – ended up in a landfill, a major loss to the economy and the environment…The energy saved by recycling 100 percent of aluminum cans could power 4 million homes for a full year.”
“While aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled beverage package, we can do better,” stated Mr. McCarty. “In the United States, for example, there are still too many Americans who don’t have automatic curbside recycling. This is part of why Ball supports The Recycling Partnership.”
“Curbside recycling programs are effective at collecting cans,” Mr. McCarty continued. “The latest available recycling rate (2016) for aluminum beverage cans in the U.S. is 49.4% per the Aluminum Association and the Can Manufacturing Institute. That can be much higher; some countries around the world, such as Brazil, have a 95+% rate.”
The Recycling Partnership agrees on the possibilities of increasing the levels of recycling aluminum products by consumers.
“There are very strong indications that improvements to both access and behavior could substantially improve the national aluminum recycling rate,” noted Mr. Mouw of The Recycling Partnership.
“We need to keep working to provide access to recycling that is on par with access to trash, so that it is just as convenient to recycle a can as to throw it away,” stated Mr. Mouw. “Right now, only about 53% of Americans have that kind of access at their homes. Access can and should also be increased at away-from-home locations, such as workplaces, restaurants, parks, and convenience stores.”
Others, including a number of manufacturers and distributors as well as the Can Manufacturers Institute, agree that greater consumer access to recycling is critical.
“Returning aluminum to the economy also helps create jobs and business opportunity, and provides a vital, energy-efficient feedstock to manufacturers,” continued Mr. Mouw. “Recycling cans, along with other materials, also helps reduce our dependence on landfills and the need to site more of them in the future.”
Among the benefits to increasing consumer recycling of aluminum products are “lower greenhouse gas emissions [and] reduced energy usage,” stated Ms. Sherrie Rosenblatt, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Can Manufacturers Institute.
One problem noted today that might grow to be a bigger impediment to aluminum recycling in the future is that some aluminum cans in the marketplace are wrapped in plastic “shrink sleeve” packaging. Mr. Mouw noted that “that [packaging] can be detrimental to the recycling process. This could become a significant issue if more cans are shrink-sleeved.”
The City of Sarasota has provided new recycling carts to residents throughout this Florida community.
(The photograph is provided courtesy of the City of Sarasota.)
Municipal governments throughout the United States are an important part of recycling by consumers.
An example of the continued efforts to expand access to recycling is now in the process of being implemented in Florida.
The City of Sarasota expanded its recycling efforts for aluminum and other products in that Florida municipality on April 1st. New carts were delivered to residences throughout Sarasota in March to encourage even greater participation in recycling by local residents through a new single-stream recycling collection service.
The Recycling Partnership provided a $100,000.00 grant to Sarasota to help reduce the costs of this expanded recycling program. Five other communities in the United States also received grants as part of the non-profit organization’s Coastal and Waterway Community Recycling Grant Program.
“This grant will be a big boost in helping us to promote recycling and make it easier for people to do their part in protecting our environment,” said Ms. Stevie Freeman-Montes, Sustainability Manager for the City of Sarasota. “Recycling is especially critical in a coastal community like Sarasota.”
Officials in government, business, and the non-profit sectors all agree that consumer recycling rates of aluminum products can and need to be increased in the United States. All see great benefits to higher recycling rates.
Access, convenience, and education are three of the key elements that will determine the success of the efforts to increase consumer recycling rates of aluminum products in this important North American nation.
Do you have questions about the aluminum industry?
Governmental regulations? Company operations?
Your questions may be used in a future news column.
Contact Richard McDonough at aluminachronicles@gmail.com.
© 2019 Richard McDonough