Europe’s aluminium scrap exports to the US have risen by 243 per cent, highlighting a growing concern over the continent’s access to strategic raw materials as it pursues recycling, decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman of METLEN, raised the issue, linking scrap outflows to the broader challenges facing European industry, energy security and strategic autonomy. Aluminium scrap outflows raise industrial concerns Mytilineos referred to the contrasting US tariff treatment of aluminium products, i.e., a 50 per cent tariff on primary aluminium, compared with zero tariff on scrap . With European aluminium scrap exports to the US increasing by 243 per cent, he questioned whether Europe could strengthen its industrial base while allowing valuable...
The US aluminium used beverage can (UBC) scrap price benchmark tracked by Argus recorded a mixed performance over the third quarter of 2026, declining in July before rising in August and September. The monthly average increased from USD 2,322.89 per tonne in July to USD 2,491.22 per tonne in August and USD 2,602.51 per tonne in September, indicating a sustained recovery in the benchmark over the three months. July: Prices decline despite a high opening The benchmark began July at USD 2,464.98 per tonne on July 1, before falling sharply to USD 2,270.76 per tonne on July 3. The price remained at that level on July 2 and July 6, the lowest recorded price for the month. It subsequently recovered gradually, reaching USD 2,319.86 per tonne on July 10 and USD 2,328.63 per tonne on July 22....
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A trial of Scotland’s forthcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), at New College Lanarkshire, has seen positive responses from students, returning more than 20,000 cans and plastic bottles over five weeks. This initiative, which was part of a joint effort between Keep Scotland Beautiful, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), was introduced across the Motherwell, Coatbridge, and Cumbernauld campuses. It offered a 20p reward for every container deposited in on-site Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) as a gesture to influence student recycling habits. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The interesting observation was a dramatic shift in behaviour during the trial period. There was about an 80 per cent rise in RVM usage from the same...
In a year defined by climate alarms and geopolitical rifts, aluminium revealed something deeper about the world: how nations negotiate vulnerability, how industries confront responsibility, and how humanity responds when the numbers stop being abstract and start touching real lives. Across energy maps, recycling gaps, trade battles, and climate negotiations, this metal became a reflection of our collective moral and economic choices. Weekly Recap: Sustainability & Recycled AL by AL Circle Pvt Ltd Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain When power maps become human maps Electricity has always been the soul of aluminium, but this year it became its burden. AL Circle’s deep dive into the global smelting landscape showed aluminium...
While the discussion hovers over aluminium, there are very few metals that can race with aluminium and win. The CEO of Sortera, Michael Siemer, has developed a system which can separate the aluminium grades with 95 per cent accuracy. This marks a breakthrough which aids in tapping into resources which have not been utilised in the recycling industry. With this system, the firm can make use of non-recycled aluminium present in the US. As identified, only about one-third of the aluminium used in the US gets recycled and the primary reason behind such a sharp gap is sorting the mixed aluminium scrap, deemed as a challenge for the recycling industry. The system that is making recycling strides With the effective utilisation of an AI model, the system identifies various grades of aluminium by...
The apex body for India’s mining sector, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), recently shared its key recommendations for the Ministry of Finance, before the Union Budget 2026-27. These recommendations by FIMI indicate the pressing need for policy intervention in order to safeguard the domestic aluminium industry. The recommendations made by the federation include the increas of basic customs duty levied on primary aluminium and aluminium downstream products to 15 per cent. The aim is to curb the sharp rise in aluminium imports and safeguard the Indian manufacturing scenario. Currently, the Indian manufacturing base is facing a menace due to the rise in imports from nations with surplus aluminium, which is affected by the tariffs and non-tariff protectionist measures...
Century Recycling, a Mexican metals recycler, is preparing to extend its footprint into the United States with a sizeable investment planned for southern Texas. The company, headquartered in Atizapán de Zaragoza, is renowned for producing brass and bronze ingots in Mexico, and intends to establish a new aluminium-focused operation in the city of Mission. Regional outlets, including Texas Border Business, reported in November that the company is moving ahead with a project valued at around USD 50 million. The development is expected to centre on secondary aluminium production, supported by multiple furnaces designed to process recycled metal. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain According to comments from CEO Mauricio Osorio, in...
What began as a quiet movement of scrap out of Europe has gradually turned into a significant concern for the region’s aluminium recyclers. The volumes leaving the bloc have increased year after year, and the trend is now firmly visible in the export numbers. In 2020, the EU exported USD 1 billion worth of aluminium scrap — about 937.8 thousand tonnes, but year later, that figure nearly doubled to USD 1.9 billion, which accounts for 1.115 million tonnes. Things eased slightly in 2022 to USD 1.88 billion and 992.5 thousand tonnes, but this downturn barely lasted a season. By 2023, exports were back up — 1.16 million tonnes scrap worth USD 2 billion were again exported and in 2024 it pushed even higher to USD 2.34 billion which accounts for 1.25 million tonnes. And before Brussels could...
PPG has recently launched a nationwide initiative named “Sigma EcoCollect” to ensure that professional painters can voluntarily return plastic and metal packaging for recycling purposes. The campaign has been launched in collaboration with FIRE-OFF (waste logistics provider) and Dijkstra Plastics (packaging manufacturer), with the primary goal of increasing the usage of post-consumer recycled metal content within the packaging. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The Sigma EcoCollect campaign would be spreading its operating base in 32 PPG Sigma Service Centres stores and 61 Sigma Coatings wholesalers to collect the metal packaging scraps. To support these initiatives, it would be supported by FIRE-OFF for its logistics and...
As per the recent third-wave international study conducted by Every Can Counts, which involved more than 16 thousand participants coming from 16 different countries, among which 1,013 participants were from Romania. According to the study, almost half of the participants and nearly 53 per cent of the participants from Romania link the circular packaging with the recycling of products back to their original form again and again. On the other hand, only 43 per cent of all the participants and 35 per cent of the Romanian participants tie circular packaging with the reusable feature. Concurrently, 57 per cent of all the participants and 65 per cent of the Romanian participants define the recyclable packaging as "designed for circularity". This reflects the consumers' resonance and awareness...
The International Aluminium Institute (IAI), on November 11, 2025, at COP30, announced that the recycling of aluminium beverage cans had achieved a 75 per cent rate globally in 2023. This marks a significant achievement, bringing the industry closer to complete circularity. Two years ago, at COP28, key players in the aluminium production and recycling working under IAI pledged an industry-wide target of recycling 80 per cent of the aluminium beverage cans. This target is set to be achieved by 2030 and they further urge to gain a 100 per cent recycling rate by 2050. Eunomia’s study A new global study highlights this significant milestone with a comprehensive evaluation of the beverage packaging recycling ever conducted. This study has been carried out by Eunomia Research & Consulting,...
First National Bank & Trust Fund Committee has made an agreement with Stacey Lantagne from Crafters on Central for collecting aluminium can tabs to support Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) has been associated with the collection of aluminium tabs and recycling them to raise funds. Stacey Lantagne has previously received support from Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) when her own family member was severely ill, by providing accommodation and free meals. This support from RMHC made her start the initiative to help and raise funds for RMHC by collecting and recycling aluminium cans. The aluminium tabs collected from various locations would be...
What once filled scrapyards is now driving a regional boom. Aluminium scrap, long treated as waste, is now an important thing into Southeast Asia as factories across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam hunt for cleaner raw material. With global industries chasing low-carbon supply chains and environmental rules tightening, the region has quietly become one of the world’s busiest recycling hubs — and business is thriving. Malaysia has taken the lead in this shift. According to UN Comtrade data aluminium scrap imports jumped 18.5 per cent in a single year — from 241.99 thousand tonnes in 2023 (worth USD 430.27 million) to 286.80 thousand tonnes in 2024, valued at USD 551.7 million. Among this United States supplied a large share, around 359,000 tonnes. By August 2025, Malaysia already...
A new £13.5 million (USD 16.74 million) metal recycling sorting facility has been approved for Wrexham Industrial Estate. Hydro Aluminium Deeside sought permission for the facility, which will increase scrap metal sorting and processing capacity to 100,000 tonnes per year. The facility will be located next to their existing aluminium recycling plant. (Image source: Google Street View) The proposed building will cover 2,878 square metres and stand approximately 15.7 metres high, matching the height of the existing facility. The new sorting facility will boost capacity by 30,000 tonnes annually, supporting increased aluminium recycling efforts. While planning officers had no significant concerns, Wrexham County Borough Council’s planning committee chair, Cllr Mike Morris, voiced...
Global beverage firm Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia has initiated the introduction of reverse vending machines (RVMs) at its major manufacturing sites, like Moorabbin in Victoria. The unit is located within the Moorabbin facility, close to where bottles and cans are produced, effectively closing the loop on-site. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain A reverse vending machine collects empty plastic, aluminium cans, and glass bottles. These items are then directed into the recycling stream. Users typically receive deposit refunds, vouchers, or other rewards, a model that has already proven effective globally. Partnership with Return-It strengthens CDS Vic The trial is being run with Return-It, the eastern zone...
Market research collated in early 2025 places the global aluminium scrap processing pipeline at roughly 38 million tonnes in 2024, with forecasts pointing to about 57 million tonnes by 2030 (a 7 per cent CAGR from 2024–2030). That projection is built on expected growth in automotive, packaging and building applications and on investments in sorting and remelting technologies. Image depicts recycled aluminium usage by end-user spectrum (Source: AL Circle Report ) Also read: 80% of waste, including aluminium packaging, goes into landfills in Greece For context at the national level, U.S. Geological Survey Publications states that in the United States, recovered aluminium from purchased scrap in 2024 was about 3.27 million tonnes, of which new (manufacturing) scrap accounted for roughly 56...
Greece has invested billions of euros in recycling infrastructure and run dozens of awareness campaigns, filling cities with blue bins for plastic and aluminium packaging, green bins for paper, and dedicated collection points for batteries and electrical appliances. Despite this visible push and widespread sorting points across neighbourhoods and retail stores, the country still struggles to shift public habits and landfill dependency. Yet around 79 per cent of municipal waste is still buried, according to figures from the Association of Recycling and Energy Recovery Industries and Enterprises (SEPAN). Recycling barely reaches 17 per cent, making Greece one of Europe’s weakest performers. SEPAN president Lena Belsi summed up the contradiction. “Burial is the easiest and cheapest solution...
The global aluminium and renewable energy sectors are witnessing changes with new recycled aluminium trends, circular economy initiatives and strategies for power procurement. Industry leaders are navigating through various regulations, sustainability goals and advanced technologies, shifting production, trade and energy sourcing. Weekly recap: Sustainability & Recycled AL by AL Circle Pvt Ltd Recycled AL regional update Two trucks filled with 37 tonnes or more of aluminium scrap were seized by the Polish border authorities. Irrespective of these scraps being designated for the country, but due to the failure of having “processing and disposal” paperwork, the authorities had to take the step. Because of this, the shipment was sent back to its origin, Germany. This significantly upholds...
Poland has blocked over 37 tonnes of illegal aluminium scrap at its border and returned the shipment to Germany. Officials detained two trucks near Jędrzychowice, a key crossing point close to the German border. The load had been logged in Poland’s digital monitoring platform. However, the designated Polish recipient lacked mandatory paperwork for “processing and disposal”, according to the National Revenue Administration. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The waste was to be delivered to the Lesser Poland (Małopolska) Province, authorities confirmed.. The recipient may now face a potential fine of up to €235,000 ( USD 269,986.8), signalling that Warsaw is prepared to make waste-crime expensive. After China’s 2018 waste-import...
Damian Gordon, an Australian recycler, began collecting discarded drink containers along beaches, roadsides and at festivals in New South Wales. He used Australia’s container-deposit scheme (worth 10 cents per eligible item) to turn bottles and cans into cash. Over several years he amassed roughly AUD 46,000 (USD 30,084), enough for a modest two-bedroom home in a rural area. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain He said that his biggest single-day haul came from cleaning up after large-scale events, “I’m going to recycle my way to a house deposit.” His efforts highlight how small, consistent actions, keeping nearly half a million containers out of landfill not only rewarded him financially but also carried environmental benefits....
