Aluminum can recycling on the rise, says industry association group

Aluminum can recycling last year grew by the highest increase in a decade, according to several associations for the industry.

That news comes from the Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute, and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, which today announced a 2.2 percent increase in aluminum can recycling rates in 2007.

According to the associations, in 2007 Americans and the aluminum industry recycled nearly 54 billion aluminum cans, nearly two billion more than in 2006. The group claims that at a recycling rate of 53.8 percent, the aluminum can is the most recycled beverage container in the United States.

“This increase in the recycling rate demonstrates the serious commitment to recycling by the aluminum industry,” said Kevin Anton, chairman of The Aluminum Association, vice president of Alcoa, and president of Alcoa Materials Management, Inc. “The aluminum can is environmentally sustainable. Our industry is committed to doing the right thing and continuing to work to increase the number of aluminum cans recycled annually.”

The Aluminum Can Council, made up of members from both The Aluminum Association and the Can Manufacturers Institute -- Alcoa, Anheuser-Busch Packaging Group, ARCO Aluminum, Ball Corporation, Novelis and REXAM -- supports a number of recycling programs.

Related Article:Can-do attitude