The Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute, and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries have jointly announced that a total of 51.9 billion aluminum cans were recycled last year, an increase of 500,000 cans from the prior year. The figures for the year pushed the UBC recycling rate to 5.16 percent.
The aluminum can industry has been promoting the recyclability of the UBCs through its Curbside Value Partnership. The CVP is a national recycling program that helps communities grow participation in residential curbside recycling programs and measures their effectiveness. The CVP is funded by the Aluminum Association and the Can Manufacturers Institute, as well as its members – Alcoa, Anheuser-Busch Recycling, ARCO, Ball Corporation, Novelis and REXAM.
"The scrap recycling industry is encouraged that despite the modest year-over-year growth, the report shows an increase in the volume of recycled cans," said Robin Wiener, president of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. "This demonstrates that the all-aluminum can continues to be recognized as a valuable recyclable commodity."
While the total amount of aluminum cans collected increased between 2005 and last year, the percent of aluminum cans collected dipped slightly, from 52 percent in 2005 to 51.6 percent last year.