Europe’s recycled aluminium industry is an important component of the global secondary aluminium supply chain, with Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom (UK) representing key national markets. Production across the European region stood at nearly 6 million tonnes in 2023, supported by established scrap recovery systems, industrial recycling capacity and demand for recycled metal. Russia also contributes to the regional landscape through secondary aluminium production units concentrated in several industrial centres. According to AL Circle’s analysis in its report, “ World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry Forecast ”, the four countries present different market structures, from Germany’s substantial recycling capacity and Italy’s scrap-based production to the UK’s organised...
According to SMM survey statistics, the operating rate of the secondary aluminium alloy industry in September was 35.0 per cent, up 3.1 percentage points M-o-M but down 6.7 percentage points Y-o-Y. Industry production continued its recovery trend, but the overall operating level remained below the same period last year. On the demand side, September marked the traditional peak consumption season, with downstream orders recovering from August. End-use demand from automobiles and other sectors improved marginally, but the peak season effect has yet to fully materialise. According to CAAM data, automobile production in September was 2.99 million units, up 11.4 per cent M-o-M but down 8.7 per cent Y-o-Y. NEV production was 1.814 million units, up 12.2 per cent Y-o-Y. CAAM noted that China's...
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Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) brought the nation together on Saturday, October 27, for its annual can recycling campaign for the 22nd year in a row. The yearly event registered a total collection of 313,352 kg of used aluminium cans during this period. This year the Can Collection Drive saw 160 organizations and families from all the emirates of UAE participating in the can collection drive. The combined effort of various hotels, families, academic institutions and corporations contributed about 4,125 kg of used aluminium cans ready to be recycled. EEG has so far achieved 55 per cent of its annual target in 2018, and has urged all sectors of the society to help achieve the set target of 28,000 kg by the end of 2018. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group...
The aluminium scrap recycling industry, comprises mainly of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), is reportedly opposing the proposed import duty hike on aluminium scrap from 2.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent. The All India Non Ferrous Metal Association (AINFMA) is of an opinion that the increase in aluminium scrap import duty would result into the closure of 3,500 MSMEs units, which in turn would lead to job loss of approximately 1.5 lakh workers employed in the sector. "India is already importing large quantity of ingots from countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, etc. which have a free trade agreement with us, at zero customs duty, while recyclers are paying 2.5% customs duty. If the duty is hiked, imports of ingots will rise further, which will adversely impact scrap...
Norway-based TOMRA Sorting Recycling has announced the launch of a new-generation X-TRACT machine. New X-TRACT features innovative Dual Processing Technology which enhances final purity levels; multi-density channels to enable more precise classification and sorting of materials; and a broad range of application packages. Valerio Sama, Vice President and Head of Product Management Recycling, commented: “With X-ray transmission technology to assess materials according to their density, X-TRACT was already capable of delivering exceptional sorting performance. TOMRA’s innovative and unique Dual Processing Technology adds even more accuracy to material recognition and sorting. There is no other technology on the market like this – and now that X-TRACT is available in a wider range of...
MYTILINEOS S.A. announces the agreement for the acquisition of a 97.87% stake in EP.AL.ME. S.A. (Aluminum Processing – Metal Industry), a Company that operates in industrial production, processing and trading of metals, mostly aluminium alloys and derivative products. EP.AL.ME. was founded in 1973 and is the largest independent producer of recycled (secondary) aluminium in Greece. Over the years, the company has established itself, both in Greece and abroad, by adapting its production to high quality standards and needs of international clients, as well as the needs of Greek businesses, whose sales to a large extent, are diverted to export market. Based on its long-term know-how and highly trained staff, and through the optimal processing of aluminium scrap, the company has the capacity...
Repak, Ireland’s only government-approved packaging recycling scheme, announced the recycling rate for aluminium drinks can in Ireland continued upward trend in 2017. The latest data showed that more than 7 out of 10 aluminium drink cans sold and consumed in the country in 2017 were collected for recycling. The data provided to Repak by both its members and registered packaging collectors and recyclers, shows that 7,297 tonnes of aluminium drinks can were collected for recycling last year, the highest rate of cans recycling since Repak began recording data in 2006. The figure was up 54% from 4,728 tonnes in 2016. Last year saw the relaunch of the Every Can Counts’ drinks can recycling programme in Ireland. The programme, managed by Alupro Ireland and funded by the aluminium suppliers,...
Istanbul has installed reverse vending machines at metro stations that allow commuters to add credit to their subway cards by depositing aluminium beverage cans and plastic bottle into the machine. According to news by the Istanbul-based Hurriyet news organization, İTÜ-Ayazağa metro station in Istanbul is the first station to receive a newly launched vending machine. The reverse vending machine is expected to spread to other metro stations in the city soon. Image Source:hurriyetdailynews.com “With these smart machines, our waste management department and the municipality’s Smart City Technologies Company [İsbak] will contribute to the protection of the environment,” the municipality said on Twitter. “We are continuing to pioneer in solid waste management,” it added. Aluminium beverage...
According to data from the Aluminium Association of India (AAI), aluminium scraps import by India increased by 21.44 per cent during April-September period of financial year 2018-2019. The total volume of India’s aluminium scrap import rose from 541,000 tonne during the first half of financial year 2017-2018 to 6,57,000 tonnes during the first half of financial year 2018-2019. Aluminium Association of India urged Indian government to impose higher import duty on aluminium scrap to protect domestic primary aluminium industry. "We have a capacity of 4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and our consumption is 3.6 MT which we are producing. So, what will be the situation in the market when import will start increasing. It will ruin the domestic aluminium industry," AAI said earlier. Aluminium...
Shanghai Metals Market reported that despite the tradition high season in China, poor consumption in the downstream auto sector negatively affected the operating rates across Chinese secondary aluminium plants in September YoY. Auto sale in China has been on a downtrend for last few months. Operating rates across secondary aluminium producers averaged 58.25% in September, down 5.05 percentage points from a year ago but up 5.13 percentage points from August. Working days picked up in September from August across downstream die-casting plants after the summer breaks. This has driven the month-on-month increase in operating rates. However, very few downstream plants did restocking before the National Day holiday and the Mid-Autumn festival bringing down the actual demand year on year. SMM...
Community retailer Scotmid Co-operative has introduced their first-ever reverse vending machine to encourage customers to recycle soft drink cans and plastic bottles. The eco-friendly scheme, called ‘Recycle and Reward’, has been launched for a three-month period in Scotmid’s South Queensferry store. Customers can return plastic and aluminium soft drink containers and receive rewards in exchange. TOMRA Sorting, a leading partner for reverse vending solutions for collecting, reusing and recycling cans and bottles, has manufactured the reverse vending machine. “We’re delighted to bring our 40 years of knowledge and machine innovation to Scotmid Co-operative to support this exciting initiative in the beautiful town of South Queensferry,” TOMRA UK MD Truls Haug said. Scotmid Chief Executive...
In line with its strategy to offer customers the “greenest” aluminium metal in the industry, Hydro is investing in its remelting facility in Azuqueca, Spain, to increase production of the recycled aluminium product Hydro 75R. Hydro’s Primary Metal business area launched Hydro 75R in December 2017. Delivered as extrusion ingot, the product offers a minimum of 75 percent post-consumer recycled aluminium – metal that has been used in other products. Hydro’s aim with the product is to increase the use of recycled post-consumer aluminium in extrusions. The content of Hydro 75R is verified by DNV GL, based on traceability and quality principles developed by Hydro. The certified low-carbon aluminium is only produced today at Hydro’s Clervaux plant in Luxembourg. Hilde Merete Aasheim, executive...
Continuing with its strategy to produce and supply the “greenest” aluminium metal in the industry, Hydro has decided to expand remelt operations at its Slovalco plant in collaboration with joint-venture partner PENTA. The expansion will facilitate production of primary aluminium as well as serve as a remelter for conversion scrap from the extrusion plants in Central Europe. The estimated investment for the new furnace is EUR 13 million and the final build decision is expected in Q1 2019. The Slovalco plant is located at the center of the actively growing aluminium market in Central Europe and the new aluminium remelting facility with the existing primary plant will be able to serve extrusion plants in Slovakia and neighbouring countries by recycling their processed scrap. Hilde Merete...
Ekopack Bulgaria invested BGN 1.45 million in the construction of a new technology center for sorting of automatic sorting of aluminium and other wastes on an area of 35 decares. The facility was launched by the Minister of Environment and Water along with the mayor and the CEO of Ekopack Bulgaria Todor Burgudjiev and the chairman of the board of directors and Coca-Cola CEO Jürg Burghalter. The official opening was attended by many producers, partners and supporters of Ekopack Bulgaria’s green mission. "The capacity of the new installation is 5 times bigger than we already have. It can sort up to 21,000 tons of packaging waste per year, "Mr. Burgudjiev said. He added that most of the processes are automated and the design allows visitors to monitor the installation's work on top. The...
According to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey, aluminium scrap exports by the USA stood at 137,000 tonnes in July 2018, down 5.5 per cent from June 2018 total of 145,000 tonnes. Total scrap exports stood at 965,000 tonnes in the first seven months of 2018. The US exported 7,500 tonnes of aluminium scrap to Canada in July, down from 8,740 tonnes exported in June. The figure dropped by 14 percent month-on-month. The USA scrap exports to Canada totalled 60,200 tonnes in the first seven months of 2018. Aluminium scrap imports by China, the world’s biggest aluminium producer, stood at 27,300 tonnes in July 2018, down from the volume imported in June. Aluminium scrap import was 37,500 tonnes in June 2018. Aluminium scrap exports to China dropped since the...
A secondary aluminium industry body Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) on Thursday, September 27, has requested Indian government to take steps to improve the availability of scrap and address concerns raised by the secondary aluminium industry. The body will also submit a memorandum with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary in October. Earlier, MRAI urged government to completely eradicate the 2.5 per cent customs duty on aluminium scrap import. A hike in duty would restrict the availability of scrap for recycled aluminium. According to MRAI, more than 5000 units of aluminium scrap will be less available in the country on the application of duty. MRI President Sanjay Mehta said: "Aluminium scrap is the key raw material of aluminium recycling...
During the Recycle Week this year from September 24 to 30, the world’s leading beverage can maker Ball Corporation has reportedly stepped forward with its survey campaign, which reveals that “Wales is the most worried country about plastic pollution in the UK.” About 81 per cent of people in Wales claiming to often take action to reduce plastic pollution against the national average of 67 per cent, by recycling or changing shopping habits, for instance. However, 1 in 10 (10%) of people in Wales still don’t understand what they can and cannot recycle. In spite of efforts to improve recycling rates and only 2 per cent of people in Wales claiming that they don’t have time to recycle. In addition, there is a lot of confusion and numerous factors that are preventing people from taking more...
PyroGenesis Canada Inc. a company that designs develops and manufactures plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch systems has announced that it has received a multi-million dollar order for two DROSRITE™ furnace systems from an Asian client. The Systems are the third and fourth commercial systems sold to date, and the first order from this new Client which are expected to be delivered in April 2019. PyroGenesis’ DROSRITE™ system is a salt-free, cost-effective, sustainable process for maximizing metal recovery from dross, a waste generated in the metallurgical industry. PyroGenesis’ patented process avoids costly loss of metal while reducing a smelter’s carbon footprint and energy consumption, providing an impressive return on investment. The system has been designed to process and...
As part of Recycling Week 2018 (September 24 to September 30), East Cambridgeshire District Council is supporting a nationwide campaign MetalMatters to help increase the rate of recycling household metal throughout the district. MetalMatters is managed by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro). Through this campaign, it aims to reassure residents that they can recycle all metal packaging found around their home, including drink cans, food tins, aluminium foil, empty aerosols and metal lids from jars. To promote activities of the campaign will include sending leaflets to every home and displaying information throughout the district. Two local schools within the district will also participate in MetalMatters workshops. Director of East Cambs Street Scene, Jo Brooks, said:...
A new campaign, launched during Recycle Week (24 – 30 September 2018), aims to highlight that the average Lancashire household could recycle 50% more if the residents put the right thing in the right bin. Every property in Lancashire produces 4.2kg of recycling a week, but another 2.1kg could be potentially recycled, equivalent to every household saving around 13 aluminium cans, 2 wine bottles, 4 big plastic pop bottles, and 4 newspapers. Extra items that could be recycled are also found outside the kitchen, with people being asked to increase their effort to recycle more things like aerosols, small glass bottles, and packaging from the bathroom and bedroom. County Councillor Albert Atkinson, deputy leader for Lancashire County Council with responsibility for waste, said: "Most people are...
