Aluminium’s trade map is no longer drawn by smelters alone. Scrap flows, power contracts, industrial policy and specialist grades now shape who secures metal, at what cost and under whose rules. Ten recent developments across Europe, the US, Australia, Japan and Mexico show how recycling, energy and regulation are becoming the new levers of aluminium competitiveness. They also show where traders, exporters and policymakers may need to adjust. Scrap tug-of-war: the US pull, Europe’s leak and the recycling base at stake The pull starts with price. The US UBC scrap benchmark averaged USD 2,322.89 a tonne in July, USD 2,491.22 in August and USD 2,602.51 in September. That is a 12 per cent climb, and it came after a July that opened at USD 2,464.98 and fell to USD 2,270.76 within two days....
Nespresso is expanding its aluminium coffee capsule recycling network across New Zealand, adding 25 JB Hi-Fi stores as collection points and bringing the total number of participating retail locations to 138. The move gives coffee drinkers more places to return used capsules, helping make recycling a little easier after that final, satisfying sip. The new collection points join existing locations at Briscoes and Noel Leeming stores. The expansion also complements other return options available through Nespresso, including its boutiques, public collection points, NZ Post drop-off locations and courier collections from customers’ homes. The aim is to make returning used capsules more convenient, recognising that a single collection method will not work for everyone. For those who enjoy...
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Roland Scharf-Bergmann, head of Hydro's Recycling unit, cautioned in a lecture at a Metal Bulletin meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, that a producer supporting recycled content over 90% is 'greenwashing' its metal. Anxiety to global warming in recent years has led policymakers and consumers to request information regarding recyclability measures in commodities made out of aluminium. Roland Scharf-Bergmann said that two indicators, namely end of life recycling rate and recycled content, are essentially used in the industry today. Roland Scharf-Bergmann, at the 19th Recycled Aluminium Conference in Istanbul, pointed out that incorrect recycling may cause greenwashing of aluminium. Recycled content examines the amount of recycled material used in the creation of a new product, while the end of...
The Aluminum Association today applauded the U.S. Senate for its passage, by unanimous consent, of Senate Resolution 251, "a resolution expressing support for improvement in the collection, processing, and consumption of recyclable materials throughout the United States." "The aluminum industry commends U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) for introducing this resolution—and to the U.S. Senate for its unanimous endorsement of it," said Heidi Brock, President of the Aluminum Association. "Recycled aluminum provides an essential feedstock to the aluminum industry, and we strongly support efforts to encourage and expand recycling of aluminum and other high-value materials—particularly among consumers," she added. The Aluminum Association joined fellow members of the...
European scrap aluminium export volumes will level off by 2014, increasing the availability of scrap in domestic European markets, delegates at Metal Bulletin’s 19th International Recycled Aluminium conference in Istanbul heard. “In future, I expect Asian markets to generate more scrap, decreasing the need for long-distance imports,” Roland Scharf-Bergmann, head of recycling at Hydro Aluminium, said. “From 2014 onwards, I expect [European] scrap exports to stagnate at around 1 million tpy,” he added. “That will lead to more availability for the European market, which is needed with [the growth in] projected demand for aluminium.”
John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation's leading recycler of electronic waste, joined Kevin Kramer, President of Growth Initiatives for Alcoa, the world's leading aluminum producer, last night for a guest lecture on the benefits of sustainable business and innovative collaboration at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. In the lecture, Shegerian and Kramer explained to the packed room of enthusiastic business students their shared story of how their companies have been able to focus on the power of collaboration to achieve sustainability goals -- and to create a mutually beneficial relationship that serves as a new and growing model of sustainability. Consumer electronics has become a fast-growing market for...
Constellium has signed a multi-year agreement with Canibal, France, to contribute to the development and deployment of a used beverage can (UBC) collection network in France. This partnership aims to support the development of Canibal beverage can collectors, expand the French network of UBC collecting equipment and increase their recycling rate. Constellium’s Specialty Sheet division has agreed to recycle all aluminium cans collected by the Canibal network at its Neuf-Brisach plant. Neuf-Brisach is the only fully integrated site in Europe with rolling, finishing and UBC recycling equipment. Constellium is a European company involved in the production of aluminium for rigid packaging including beverage cans, food cans and closures for wines, spirits and mineral water. Aluminium’s ability...
On Tuesday, Coca-Cola Recycling LLC opened a new consumer recycling center in Irving that accepts and processes aluminum cans and #1 PET plastic beverage bottles. Located in the Kroger shopping complex at 3612 North Belt Line Road, the new center was created to offer free and convenient access to beverage container recycling. The Dallas-Fort Worth area was selected as the pilot market for the Reimagine recycling program, and the first Reimagine Beverage Containers recycling center was opened in Arlington last November. More than 2.3 million containers have been collected and recycled at centers in Arlington, Plano and Garland in less than a year, resulting in almost 100,000 pounds of material diverted from DFW-area landfills. Kroger is the retail host for the Reimagine pilot program and...
The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) Chairman Svein Richard Brandtzæg today welcomed the launch of the latest in the series of product-related sustainability websites from IAI, highlighting the advantages of the use of aluminium in packaging. Recognising the demand from customers, consumers and policymakers around the world for up-to-date and easy to access information, the IAI has developed the site to demonstrate the economic, social and environmental benefits of aluminium packaging solutions. Launched today at the Arab International Aluminium Conference 2011 (ARABAL), the website features interactive content based on the IAI’s lifecycle research and examples of the full range of aluminium packaging applications. It also provides credible and accurate life cycle data, which...
On Monday 14th November 2011, a volunteer team of 40 employees from ALCOA will be delivering a 6 ft tall Christmas tree to the Carnegie Science Centre located in the North Shore River Front in Pittsburgh. The tree is an evergreen variety handmade out of 100% infinitely recyclable aluminium cans to spread the message of aluminium can recycling. This Christmas tree delivery is in conjunction with the America Recycles Day observed every 15th of November. The tree is to be placed at the Rangos Omnimax theatre at the Carnegie Science Centre until the holidays come to an end. The tree will be subsequently recycled and is expected to be back in the store shelves as aluminium cans in 60 days time. It is estimated that by recycling 756 aluminium cans can save energy that can provide power for an...
Oman has the potential to become a major aluminium recycling centre servicing the industry across the GCC in the future, an industry leader has told delegates at the 15th Arabal conference in Oman. Oman has the potential to become a major aluminium recycling centre servicing the industry across the GCC in the future, an industry leader has told delegates at the 15th Arabal conference in Oman. Frederic Rouyer, the Chief Executive of Oman Aluminium Processing Industries (OAPIL) told delegates at the Sohar Aluminium-hosted event in Muscat about the huge untapped potential for the creation of a viable aluminium recycling industry in the Gulf. He explained that the amount of aluminium scrap produced in the GCC during the downstream process was set to double to an estimated 270kt/y by 2020 as...
Recycle Every Aluminum Can You See and Use Tomorrow and Everyday The Aluminum Association supported America Recycles Day,November 15th and reminded everyone to recycle all the aluminum they use in their everyday lives. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable meaning it can be eternally recycled with no loss in quality. Aluminum's recyclability and durability mean that 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today. Recycled aluminum requires only 5% of the energy and saves 95% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with primary aluminum production. Used aluminum cans have real value. Every year, the aluminum industry pays over $1.5 billion to consumers and facilities recycling used cans and the recycling industry supports thousands of jobs. "People are starting to get the message...
Aberdeen City Council has expanded its fortnightly black box kerbside recycling service to include empty aerosol cans and clean foil trays and kitchen foil. The move is expected to prevent up to three million aerosol cans and 20 million foil containers ending up in local landfill every year. The materials can also be deposited at neighbourhood recycling points across the city. City Council waste and recycling manager Peter Lawrence said: ""The addition of this service to the kerbside recycling collection is great news for households who want to do more to help the environment. It answers calls from many local residents who were keen to increase the range of items they can recycle at the kerbside. ""The aluminium and steel used in these containers can be recycled endlessly without losing...
The first single-stream recycling facility in Central Texas has opened in Williamson County. "We can separate all of the components and package it up," said John Rabon, with GM Wilco Recycling. Wilco Recycling is a private venture that built a $6 million facility in Taylor, and it opened in September. Before this facility was built, garage haulers were traveling down to San Antonio to take recyclables. "It makes it not cost-effective and not environmentally responsible," said Rabon. So it's not a surprise that several area haulers are now bringing upwards of 2,000 tons of trash per month -- 40 tons is just in aluminum cans, which is nearly 3 million cans. It then gets sold on the market. "Aluminum cans can be anywhere worth 50 cents a pound to $1 a pound, depending on the demand for the...
MHM Metals (ASX: MHM) has secured an additional processing contract for the supply of feedstock to the planned U.S. salt slag and black dross processing facility. The company reached a milestone in the development of the global expansion of its aluminium waste recycling technology by agreeing a first contract on November 4, 2011. The second contract is for twelve months and has been structured as a ‘tipping’ arrangement, where MHM assumes ownership of recovered aluminium, salt flux and aluminium oxide. The contract provides a mechanism for the parties to explore a tolling arrangement where the customer retains ownership of recovered aluminium and salt flux, on the basis of demonstrated recoveries. The company said details of the contract must remain confidential and MHM must refrain from...
Recycling is not only good for the planet, but good for your wallet too. According to the Aluminum Assn, Americans earn nearly $1 billion a year from recycling aluminum cans, yet nearly another $1 billion worth of aluminum cans are still tossed into landfills. As national sponsors of America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, 2011, Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation are providing tools on its recycling website to make it easier for Americans to recycle. The website is loaded with ideas on how to turn cans into treasure—from a free Aluminate iPhone app that helps users set and track financial recycling goals, to a turnkey toolkit that provides steps for planning a recycling campaign to raise money for charity. "Increased recycling can also be a job creator," says Beth Schmitt, director of recycling programs...
Novelis is to invest $32M to expand recycling capacity at its aluminium rolling and recycling complex in Pindamonhangaba, Brazil. This is in addition to a $300M rolling mill expansion currently under way at the plant and a further $30M invested over the past two years to expand recycling capacity and establish a network of used can collection centres within the country. The expansion will include a recycling line that will nearly double the plant’s capacity to recycle used beverage cans and other aluminum scrap from 200kt/y to 390kt/y. The new line, which is expected to come on stream in late 2013, will help to ensure metal supply for the plant’s rolling mills while reducing operating costs and delivering environmental benefits.
John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, spoke today at the American Metal Market Events’ recycled Aluminum Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. Shegerian discussed the rapid evolution of the electronic recycling industry and shared insights regarding the promise of what he describes as “urban mining.” As more and more producers who traditionally relied on primary metal as content have been turning to scrap metal inputs as a viable resource, AMM chose to arrange for this special event to pose the question: “What does this mean for traditional secondary producers and for supplier of scrap?” Today’s AMM Event brought together leading experts who provided the answers. Shegerian was at the AMM Event...
The maintenance manager of Jupiter Aluminum Corporation in Hammond has been sentenced to six months of home detention after pleading guilty in federal court to conspiring to violate a U.S. Clean Air Act permit and to making false statements in reports to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana said. Charles Woodworth, 64, of Crown Point was also sentenced to three years of probation, a fine of $2,500, and 100 hours of community service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “Woodworth admitted in his plea agreement that the purpose of the conspiracy was to conceal from environmental regulators the Jupiter Aluminum’s failure to properly control and limit its air emissions so it could continue to operate and burn scrap aluminum,...
The metals company Stena Aluminium, based in Älmhult, Sweden, and the Sweden-based energy producer E.On Värme have signed a 15-year agreement to allow the waste heat generated at Stena’s smelting plant to be distributed to E.On’s heating customers in Älmhult. “This agreement is entirely in line with E.ON's efforts to minimize carbon dioxide emissions and to utilize resources that would otherwise have gone to waste,” Peter Jonsson, E.ON Värme regional director, says. “Using waste heat from Stena Aluminium, district heating in Älmhult, Sweden can expand further without us needing to make use of more fuel.” “There is an enormous benefit to the environment if so much waste heat can be utilized and replace other fuels. This is a major contribution to sustainable development for Älmhult,”...
