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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HPQ Silicon Inc., a Quebec-based advanced materials engineering provider, has filed a provisional patent application for its latest innovative process developed by its France-based affiliate, Novacium SAS. The process is designed to transform black aluminium dross, a toxic by-product of aluminium recycling typically sent to landfills, into valuable resources. The waste-to-energy process will use black aluminium dross as a feedstock to produce green hydrogen and transform the remaining material into waste neutralisation and valorisation of the solid by-products. As rightly stated by Dr Oliver Moos, the Managing Director of Casthouse Engineering and Technology AG (CETAG) of Switzerland, this innovation has developed a promising approach to address critical materials like black aluminium...
The Life Science Centre, a vibrant science hub in Newcastle upon Tyne, has unveiled a new immersive exhibit dedicated to recycling. Created by the not-for-profit organization Every Can Counts, the Infinity Room installation offers visitors a unique and engaging experience. Image Source: Every Can Counts As Life celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the award-winning science centre continues to inspire curiosity and excitement about the world. The Infinity Room highlights the importance of recycling drink cans while showcasing the infinite recyclability of aluminium, making it an educational and interactive attraction for visitors of all ages. Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager at Every Can Counts, stated, "The aim of the exhibit is to raise awareness of the infinite recyclability...
The people of Kilkenny have recycled over 4.5 million aluminium cans and plastic bottles in just one year through the Return scheme. According to SuperValu and Centra, their stores alone have facilitated the recycling of an amount equivalent to 42 containers per person in Ireland during the first 12 months of the Deposit Return Scheme. Kilkenny is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. PET bottles can be recycled up to seven times through the Deposit Return Scheme, while aluminium cans can be infinitely recycled. Collected from SuperValu and Centra stores at the end of each week, the containers are transported to a recycling facility in Limerick, where they are sorted by material and colour, with any waste removed from...
Sortera Technologies, Inc., a pioneering material sorting company utilising an upcycling platform driven by artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced sensors, has appointed Wall Street veteran Kenneth Leet as Chairman of the Board. Mr Leet, the first to hold this position, joins the company’s Board at a pivotal moment of phenomenal growth. With over three decades of leadership in the financial sector, Mr Leet’s extensive experience with industrial enterprises is set to play a vital role as Sortera embarks on its next phase of rapid expansion, including the establishment of additional sortation facilities to serve a diverse range of industries across the nation. “Kenneth is a well-regarded leader with an outstanding reputation and vast experience in investing and advising some...
Hydro's aluminium recycling plant in Henderson, Kentucky, has been awarded $17.4 million in tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act to support advanced technology for the automotive industry. The investment will be directed towards the HyForge project, which will introduce innovative technology to the U.S. to cater to the expanding automotive market. Image Source: Hydro Announced by Hydro in May 2024, the HyForge project enhances automotive-focused production at the company's Henderson recycling plant. After a highly competitive selection process, the U.S. Department of Energy granted the funding through the Section 48C Qualifying Advanced Energy Project tax credit program, which evaluated over 800 projects across the U.S. About HyForge project The HyForge project is set to become...
Alupro, the aluminium packaging recycling organisation, will showcase its offerings at the 2025 Aerosol & Dispensing Forum (ADF), part of Paris Packaging Week at the Expo Porte de Versailles. The show will take place on January 28-29 and will bring together hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of delegates to explore advancements in the sector, technological innovations, and growth opportunities within the industry. Image Source: Aerosol & Dispensing Forum (ADF) At Stand T26, Alupro will showcase its latest initiatives, campaigns, and behavioural change programs. In addition, the organisation will host a dynamic panel session on best practices in aerosol recycling, bringing together prominent European experts from across the packaging supply chain. Commenting on the event, Giddings said,...
The United States is one of the leading aluminium scrap exporters in the world, with an annual average export volume close to 2 million tonnes. In 2023, the country exported 2.06 million tonnes, and by October, 1.74 million tonnes was shipped. In the first ten months of the subsequent year, the export volume totalled 1.73 million tonnes, reflecting a Y-o-Y dip of 0.6 per cent, according to the US Census Bureau Statistics. Was this decline consistent throughout the first ten months? What factors contributed to the fall? And which country had the most significant impact on the drop? All these will be closely studied in this comprehensive article. Month-on-month export volume trend To address the first question, let us delve into the month-wise export volume by the United States. In the...
Aluminium recycling goes beyond sustainability; it serves as a key catalyst for economic growth, enhances supply chain resilience, and supports environmental responsibility. And talking about recycling, Novelis, the global leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, is leading the way in end-of-life vehicle recycling, going beyond just production scrap. Image Source: Novelis By utilising advanced scrap sortation and segregation technologies, the company aims to capture specific aluminium alloys from decommissioned vehicles, preserving their value and quality. In partnership with key industry players, Novelis is driving a circularity platform for end-of-life vehicles, optimising material flow, increasing access to high-quality recycled aluminium, and minimising landfill waste. Collaborating...
The grocery aisle is a kaleidoscope of colourful packaging crafted to grab the attention of the buyers and entice them to make a purchase. Be it aluminium cans, bottles, and other materials, the packaging story doesn't end once it is opened and recycled; the real story begins when the material returns to the shelves as a new product or is transformed into something very different. The latest report from the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) paints a reasonably positive picture: in 2022–23, packaging across all industries in Australia contained an average of 44 per cent recycled content. However, this figure hides significant variation between materials. To explore the differences, ABC Science examined three commonly used and relatively easy-to-recycle packaging materials —...
Alupro has unveiled an engaging new initiative aimed at raising consumer awareness about best practices for recycling aluminium packaging. Launched on January 6 and running through March, the digital campaign features a series of creative, eye-catching videos shared across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Image Source: RECYCLE ALUMINIUM (Alupro) Presented in a dynamic roving reporter format, the campaign showcases playful competitions where children and adults face off to test their knowledge about what happens to packaging after it's sorted for recycling. The videos challenge the general public's recycling knowledge, uncover a few amusing home truths, and call on industry experts to clarify misconceptions. Following the success of a similar campaign by Alupro in 2023—which reportedly...
The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) and the European Recycling Industries Confederation (EuRIC) reportedly wrote letters to the European Union, cautioning potential threats to the European domestic scrap industry if protectionist measures are taken in response to the appeal by the European Steel Association (Eurofer) and European Aluminium for an effective action to tackle scrap leakage in a bid to attain national sustainability vision and secure industrial competitiveness. Image Source: European Aluminium EuRIC said in a statement that scrap exports by the European traders have kept the domestic recycling market alive, so any restrictions on scrap exports will cause injury to the recycling businesses and the EU’s overall economy. Highlighting the potentially harmful consequences,...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the UAE outside of oil and gas and the world’s leading producer of premium aluminium, has announced the completion of civil works for the expansion project at its U.S. recycling subsidiary, Spectro Alloys. Source- EGA webiste Construction began in March’24 Construction began in March 2024, culminating in a 90,000-square-foot addition. This new facility enables Spectro Alloys to broaden its product range by producing billet from post-consumer aluminium scrap. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, “The completion of the civil works is an important milestone in the expansion of Spectro Alloy’s recycled aluminium production and our ambitions to grow EGA’s recycling business in the...
The deposit for PET and aluminium beverage containers is expected to rise, encouraging consumers to sort materials correctly to benefit the climate and the environment. Returpack, the Swedish DRS company, will raise the deposits on all packaging: from SEK 1 to SEK 2 for aluminium cans and small PET bottles and from SEK 2 to SEK 3 for large PET bottles. About Sweden’s DRS The goal for Sweden's DRS is to maintain a stable rate above 90 per cent, yielding significant environmental benefits. In 2023, 2.7 billion packages were deposited and returned to the recycling loop, achieving a deposit rate of 88.5 per cent. “The refund is that little added value that makes the deposit return scheme work so well. Now we are turning it up a notch by increasing the deposit amount on all packaging, making...
The aluminium recycling industry is stepping into a new era in 2025, driven by ambitious projects announced and commenced in 2024 that combine innovation, sustainability, and community impact. From high-tech facilities to grassroots initiatives, these efforts are reshaping the way we recycle this infinitely reusable metal. Here’s an in-depth look at the top 10 aluminium recycling initiatives making headlines the past year. 1. Governor Tim Walz unveils $71 million recycling plant expansion Minnesota’s industrial landscape has been transformed with the $71 million expansion of Spectro Alloys’ recycling facility in Rosemount. Launched under the leadership of Governor Tim Walz , the state-of-the-art facility integrates pioneering technology to deliver an astounding 90 per cent reduction in...
On Monday, January 13, Norsk Hydro announced it would purchase the remaining shares in Hydrovolt from the Swedish battery developer and recycler Northvolt AB for NOK 78 million. Following the acquisition, Hydro will gain full ownership in Hydrovolt, a battery-recycling joint venture between Hydro and Northvolt, with the shareholding rising to 100 per cent from 72 per cent. Image Source: Norsk Hydro Hydrovolt was established in 2020 as a 50/50 joint venture between Hydro and Northvolt. Starting with a capacity of processing 12,000 tonnes of battery packs annually, the joint venture company became Europe’s largest electric vehicle battery recycling plant over the years, promoting a circular solution for end-of-life batteries. Hydro’s decision to acquire the remaining shares in Hydrovolt...
The aluminium industry must cut its emissions intensity by 30 per cent by 2030 and 9 per cent by 2050 compared to 2022 levels to align with the International Aluminum Institute’s (IAI) 1.5-degree benchmark. To achieve this, absolute carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for aluminium (both primary and secondary) need to be reduced to 810 million tonnes in 2030 and further to 53 million tonnes by 2050. Image Source: Can Manufacturers Institute The industry has reduced emission intensity by 13.6 per cent from 2019 to 2023 which is primarily driven by improvements in reduced reliance on coal, increased secondary production and energy efficiencies. The absolute emission for aluminium (primary and secondary combined) was 1.13 gigatonne of CO2 e in 2019, decreasing to 1.12 gigatonne of CO2 e in 2023....
MIT engineers have developed a nanofiltration process that enhances aluminium production efficiency while minimising hazardous waste. This innovative method processes waste from aluminium plants, recovering aluminium ions that would otherwise be lost in the effluent stream. Image Source - MIT website About the process The retrieved aluminium is upcycled and reintegrated into the primary aluminium production process. By reintroducing the captured aluminium into the electrolysis vat without introducing excessive by-products, the process maintains the speed and efficiency of electrolysis, simultaneously reducing waste and increasing overall yield. The researchers employed an innovative membrane to filter solutions mimicking the waste streams generated by aluminium plants. Their tests...
Across Europe, Deposit Return Systems (DRS) are instrumental in advancing a circular economy for packaging. A collaborative effort involving producers, retailers, the government, and the operator RetuRO yields impressive results in Romania. Results of the DRS Launched in December 2023, Romania's Deposit Return System has recently completed its first full year of operation, showcasing impressive results: Around 200,000 tonnes of packaging were recycled from January to October 2024 Seven counting and sorting centres throughout the country Around more than three billion containers including aluminium, PET, etc have been returned from December 2023 to October 2024 In October 2024, 84 per cent of containers sold in the market were returned through the scheme Around 99 per cent of Romanian...
