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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According to a recent study undertaken by Forum for the Future and made by Novelis, the aluminium recycler has found 70% of consumers would want to switch brands if one brand is showing more environmental credentials. The study was conducted with the help of Madano Partnership, the marketing research agency. It was done with 3,000 people across US, UK and Poland to gain consumer insights into evercan product of Novelis. It is an certified aluminium sheet thaqt will contain 90% of recycled content and seen by the recycler company as a circular economy exemplar. The main findings of the study include how sustainable packaging adds brand value. This is of great help as people want to purchase those products and services these days that have a positive social and environmental impact. Waste...
European secondary aluminium ingot prices edged up on Friday June 6, as the relative lack of UK material on the continent led to a tightening of supply. DIN226 pressure diecasting ingot rose to €1,680-1,740 ($2,286-2,368) per tonne from €1,670-1,730 previously, as the strong sterling continued to restrict imports into Europe from the UK. Demand is very strong in Europe, particularly from the auto sector, but prices have been flat for much of the year so far because supply levels have been so high. But with less UK material being exported to Europe, producers on the continent are seeing more of that demand and thus selling more of their output. "The ingot market is coming up a bit on the high utilisation of our capacity," a producer said. "Our capacity is now all booked up for the next...
Mining is the most important industrial activity driving the global economy today, with 10-12 per cent direct and 40-50 per cent indirect contribution to the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With increasing pressure on the metal-making industry related to feedstock and power security on one hand and a rise in metal stock from society as "end-of-life" (EOL) on the other, generation of scrap is ever increasing. Primary source of EOL scrap includes demolished building and construction works, End-of-life vehicles (ELV), electric wires and cables, electronics, Used Beverage Cans (UBC), etc. The global recycling industry market is estimated to be in excess of USD 200 Billion annual revenues, of which USD 75 Billion is generated by the United States. Globally, it is noted that ferrous,...
The North American Aluminum scrap prices ended marginally higher on ScrapMonster Price Index as on June 2nd , Monday. 1100 Scrap prices moved higher by $0.01 per Lb. The prices of 3003 Scrap too increased $0.01 per Lb. A similar up move of $0.01 per Lb was witnessed in 356 Aluminum Wheels, 5052 Scrap, 6061 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions and 6063 Extrusions/Fe. The prices of Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe increased by $0.01 per Lb. The prices of Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Radiators/Fe moved higher by $0.01 per Lb. Aluminum Transformer prices too went higher by $0.01 per Lb to touch $0.26 per Lb on 2nd June. Breakage 50% Recovery prices appreciated by $0.01 per Lb. Chrome Wheels, E.C Aluminum Wire, Litho Sheets and Mixed Aluminum Turnings prices witnessed a rise of $0.01 per Lb...
The CEO of Latasa Recycling, Mario Fernandez, signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government for setting up an industrial plant of the company in Centennial South, northern Paraná. The company, Brazil's leading aluminum recycling, promises to invest £ 30 million in the recycling venture, generating around 150 direct jobs and 300 indirect jobs. The unit will have the capacity to recycle up to 3000 tons of scrap per month. Founded in 1991, Latasa pioneered in Brazil in the recycling sector. More than 200 tons of aluminum scraps are processed per year in three centers located in the state of São Paulo. The company has 20 collection centers in 11 Brazilian states and one in Miami. The CEO of Latasa, Mario Fernandez explained that the company works with all kinds of scrap, but...
Made from paper-based materials with a biopolymer coating, a new collection bag for Nespresso allows Austrian customers to conveniently gather coffee capsules for recycling. Nespresso has introduced a collection and recycling system for used aluminium capsules as part of the Nespresso Ecolaboration™ program, launched in 2009, which currently offers more than 1,300 recycling collection points in Austria, adding up to a recycling capacity of 84%. According to the company, recycled aluminium generates only 5% of the CO2 emissions that are associated with primary aluminium. In order to offer its customers the utmost convenience, Nespresso Austria asked Mondi to develop a customized collection bag that reflects its sustainability principles. The solution is a paper-based bag made of FSC™...
Wrapping up World Trade Month, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries extolled the important role scrap materials play in global trade, both for the U.S. and foreign countries. Scrap materials are in the top 5 U.S.’s exports based on value, helping to supply the world’s growing demand for all commodities, including metals, plastics, electronics, rubber and more. “Global trade is integral to the recycling industry, resulting in hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “In any given year, 30 to 40 percent of scrap is processed for export. In 2013, commodity grade scrap products were exported to 160 countries worldwide, generating nearly $24 billion in export sales and significantly helping the U.S. balance of trade.”...
A firm of North East-based aerospace manufacturers have finished a £7 million upgrade to their Consett factory. The major upgrade to CAV Aerospace’s facility has created an open-plan layout, with space to accommodate large specialist machinery to manufacture aircraft wing components. The firm instructed Sanderson Weatherall to provide project management, architectural services and construction design management co-ordination for the scheme - which was part-funded by a £1.4 million grant from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund. Works also included the construction of a new extension for collection of swarf, a new briquette store to enable recycling of aluminium, repair, refurbishment and redecoration work throughout, and external work, including safe pedestrian access and security...
Recovered fibre expert Ranjit Baxi of UK-based J&H Sales International, a stalwart and past president of the BIR world recycling organisation's Paper Division, has authored a book entitled 'Recycling our Future' which provides an insight into the challenges facing the industry and individuals as the world contemplates growing mountains of waste. To be available in June, the book is about 'the forces and drivers that impact upon the recycling business - it is about the practicalities', notes its publisher. It also 'provides some interesting or shocking facts and figures': in 2004, for instance, 55 billion aluminium cans were buried in landfill, littered or incinerated, which was 9 billion more than in the year 2000. The book also notes that recycling 1 tonne of paper saves 24 to 31 trees,...
Every Can Counts, an ‘away from home’ drinks can recycling initiative, is to expand into Greece five years since first being launched in the UK. Managed by Alupro in the UK, plans to target the estimated 30% of drinks cans discarded outside of the home were originally revealed in May 2008 amid fears that the country would miss the packaging recycling target for aluminium. However, it did not officially launch the Every Can Counts programme until the following year (see letsrecycle.com story). Delivered by a funding partnership comprising beverage can manufacturers, the aluminium packaging recycling industry and leading brands such as Red Bull and Carlsberg UK, Every Can Counts has established collection partnerships with over 50 recycling businesses in the UK since 2009. During that time,...
Aluminium has a high recycling rate but there are many products that take a long time to reach the scrap yards. The value of aluminium scraps and its recyclability is very well documented. But many aluminium products have the limitations on the ability of the scrap to supply above 20% of raw materials required by aluminium industry. In the CRU World Aluminium event 2014 held in Hong Kong in the middle of May, Chris Bayliss from International Aluminium Institute based in London said, “long life cycle products dominate” among uses of aluminium and the exception is packaging. Bayliss also said, 200 mn metric tonnes of the metal was produced between the period 1880-1980, 800 mn tons produced in last 30 yeras. Will Savage of Aluminium Federation in UK said the energy savings in using scrap and...
Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today reported net income attributable to its common shareholder of $54 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014. Excluding certain tax-effected items, net income was $75 million. “Fiscal 2014 was a transitional year for Novelis and we closed it on a strong note,” said Phil Martens, President and Chief Executive Officer for Novelis. “We completed the majority of our business transformation initiatives to secure our leadership position in flat rolled products for the global automotive and beverage can markets, and enhance our unmatched, low-cost recycling capabilities worldwide. Together these actions are driving both our top and bottom lines.” The company reported shipments of aluminum rolled products of 753 kilotonnes...
According to Rose Read, recycling manager at MobileMuster at Bega Valley, Australia, there are 32,999 old, broken or unused mobile phones stored in homes, offices and garages. “Every Australian needs to take responsibility for their contribution to our ever mounting e-waste problem and this World Environment Day (June 5), is the perfect opportunity for Bega Valley residents to collectively make an impact,” Ms Read said. “If everyone dug out just one old mobile phone and recycled it, collectively we could make a significant difference.” In the Bega Valley Shire alone, MobileMuster has calculated the 32,999 old mobile phones and accessories which could prevent mining 103 tonnes of precious metal ore. Environmentally, that’s the equivalent to planting 87 trees. The same number of phones...
The U.S. Navy (USN) has awarded a contract to Esco Marine, based in Brownsville, Texas, to tow, dismantle and recycle the decommissioned aircraft carrier the Saratoga. The contract was signed May 8, 2014. Under the contract, Esco has agreed to pay 1 cent for the aircraft carrier. The price reflects the net price proposed by Esco Marine, which considered the estimated proceeds from the sale of the scrap metal to be generated from dismantling. The USN says it is not a sales contract but rather a procurement contract and the cost represents the lowest price the Navy could possibly have paid the contractor for the towing and dismantling of the Saratoga. The Navy continues to own the ship during the dismantling process. The contractor takes ownership of the scrap metal as it is produced and...
The use of recycling in the manufacturing processes of materials such as iron, steel and aluminium has been “a main driver” of improvements in energy efficiency within the industry. That’s according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), which suggests production of these metals accounts for 10% of total manufacturing energy use. “Primary production, in which steel is made from iron ore and aluminium from bauxite ore, is energy intensive. However, secondary production, which involves the use of recycling scrap to make steel and aluminium, is much more energy efficient”, the EIA said. Estimates from the Environment Protection Agency show secondary steel production uses around 74% less energy than the production of steel from iron ore while the US Department of Energy reported...
In light of the forthcoming review of EU waste legislation, the European Aluminium Association (EAA) is advocating higher recycling targets and 'phasing out landfilling of end-use recyclable goods'. The organisation's director general Gerd Götz insists 'bold policy measures are needed to secure the availability of aluminium scrap in Europe - a key resource for increasing recycling rates and one of Europe's energy security components'. He calls for investment and innovation in the fields of collection and sorting, as well as greater consistency in reporting procedures and clearer definitions of recycling. Furthermore, aluminium ought to be recognised as a 'permanent material', Götz maintains. For instance, its durability means that 75% of the aluminium ever produced in still in use. In...
The U.S. aluminum industry purchased an estimated 714 million pounds of aluminum scrap during February 2014, according to aluminum recycling statistics published by the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Interior, down eight-tenths of one percent from the February 2013 total of 719 million. USGS estimates that recovery of aluminum and aluminum alloys totaled 617 million pounds, a decline of six-tenths of one percent year-over-year. During the first two months of 2014, preliminary data indicate that recovery of aluminum from scrap totaled an estimated 1,246 million pounds, off 1.8 percent from the 2013 YTD total of 1,269 million. U.S. exports of scrap, not included in the government’s consumption statistics, totaled 585 million pounds year-to-date, down 10.6 percent from 2013.
During its 2014 convention and exposition, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) elected four new national officers, three directors-at-large, and one associate director to its board, all of whom will serve two-year terms ending in 2016. Among those elected is Doug Kramer of Kramer Metals Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) who will serve as ISRI’s new chair. The three other national officers are: Chair-Elect Mark Lewon of Utah Metal Works, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT); Vice-Chair Brian Shine of Manitoba Corporation (Lancaster, NY); and Secretary-Treasurer Gary Champlin of Champlin Tire Recycling (Concordia, KS). The three directors-at-large elected were: Josh Joseph, Muskingum Iron & Metal Co. (Zanesville, OH); Tom Knippel, SA Recycling Corp.(Orange, CA); and Eva Shine, Shine Bros. Corp....
