Brazil Sets Voluntary Aluminum Recycling Record

Reusing 87 percent of the aluminum cans on the domestic market, Brazil set the world record in voluntary aluminum recycling in 2002, the second year in a row, the Brazilian Aluminum Association said.

Brazil beat out Japan last year by recycling 85 percent versus Japan's 83 percent of aluminum cans produced. Japan should announce 2002 figures in June, but given its slow annual growth in recycling, it is not expected to surpass Brazil.

Based solely on market economics -- without any fiscal incentives, penalties or subsidies from the government -- Brazilians recycled 9 billion cans, or 121,100 metric tons, a gain of 2.6 percent on 2001.

ABAL estimated the collection and recycling industry is made up of 2,000 companies that support 150,000 people solely on the collection of cans.