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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Every Can Counts (ECC), a not-for-profit communication initiative aimed at achieving a 100 per cent recycling rate for drink cans, is proudly celebrating its 15th anniversary. Established in Birmingham in 2009 as a workplace recycling program, ECC has expanded its reach to 21 countries worldwide, including Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and, most recently, the United States. The celebration To commemorate this milestone, 27 ECC representatives gathered in Prague before the European Aluminium Packaging & Recycling Seminar. During the celebrations, attendees shared local success stories and engaged in discussions about the future direction of the program's global strategy. The Every Can Counts (ECC) program was launched 15 years ago after the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation...
Hydro introduces a 12-inch indirect extrusion press, invalidating two older presses in Cressona, Pennsylvania, where the capacity of the recycling facility has also been expanded to an additional 50,000 tonnes. The NOK 1 billion investment goes into taking forward the company's effort to create more efficient and modern operations in North America. A part of these projects shall present the most extensive recycling facilities of Hydro to date, with a capacity of 2,70,000 tonnes per year. "With these investments, we continue the development of the Cressona plant as a key part of Hydro Extrusions in North America. The increased efficiency and the ability to deliver recycled aluminium with a lower carbon footprint to our North American customers caters to the growing demand for more...
The United States of America, with an impressive economic size of US$26.95 trillion (as of 2023), ranks among the world’s leading aluminium producers, consumers, and exporters. Based on AL Circle’s research, the United States is the second-largest producer of aluminium extrusion and scrap and the fifth-largest manufacturer of cast aluminium products. According to Statista, the United States aluminium consumption reached 4 million tonnes in 2023, while the US Geological Survey reported exports of 3.29 million tonnes (including scrap). Now that the United States’ H1 2024 export data is revealed, it is evident that the country is seeing a consistent growth trajectory in its aluminium export volume over the years. In the first half of 2024 ended June 30, the United States exported 1.77...
At the recent UK Metals Expo, Bridgnorth Aluminium (BAL), the UK's leading flat-rolled aluminium coil manufacturer, showcased the impressive talents of its apprentice engineers. Oliver Greenhalgh and Sam Foster, first-year apprentices at BAL, captivated visitors at the industry's largest exhibition with their innovative steam train model, crafted entirely from scrap metal. The two trainee mechanical engineers dedicated 20 hours to designing and manufacturing the aluminium model. It was proudly displayed at the BAL stand and the Café De Arts area, next to the London 2012 Olympic Torch. "Growing our own staff is very important to the business and we do this by investing in our apprentices and giving them the responsibility and opportunities to grow. The UK Metals Expo is a massive showcase...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the world's largest producer of premium aluminium, has acquired a majority stake in the American aluminium recycling company Spectro Alloys Corporation. This acquisition expands EGA's global presence, with operations now spanning four continents, from bauxite mining to aluminium recycling. New chapter for Spectro Alloys Spectro Alloys significantly boosts EGA's domestic metal production in the United States, which is already one of EGA's key markets. In 2023, the company sold around 550,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in the U.S. alone. President of Spectro Alloys, Luke Palen, commented, "Becoming part of EGA is an exciting new chapter in Spectro Alloys' five decades-long journey. EGA's global resources and strength in marketing aluminium in the United...
The Global Beverage Can Circularity Alliance, formed following COP28, is unveiling its global advocacy plan at Climate Week NYC. Developed by Roland Berger, this plan outlines actions, investments, and policies tailored to track the usage of domestic aluminium cans, waste management systems, and socio-economic conditions across 140 countries. The Alliance, backed by the Aluminum Association, the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), and the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), will host an international strategy event during Climate Week NYC. This event aims to discuss strategies for achieving nearly 100 per cent recycling of aluminium beverage cans by 2050. Each member company of the Alliance has pledged to announce at least one investment by COP30 to support the global recycling...
Alusort LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between Hydro and PADNOS, has launched operations of its new aluminium scrap sorting line, utilising cutting-edge HySort technology at PADNOS’s facility in Grandville, Michigan. This new line will supply Hydro’s recycling plants in Cassopolis and Henderson with raw post-consumer scrap, supporting the large-scale production of Hydro CIRCAL – a low-carbon aluminium product made with at least 75 per cent post-consumer scrap. Hydro teamed up with PADNOS Commercial operations for Hydro’s cutting-edge scrap sorting technology have begun at PADNOS’s facility in Grandville, Michigan. Ten months ago, Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy leader, partnered with scrap management firm PADNOS to establish Alusort LLC. The proprietary HySort technology,...
Fort Wayne, Indiana-based MetalX LLC has appointed Stan Gish as the new President and Chief Operating Officer of MMX Aluminium, the company’s forthcoming aluminium slab production facility in Defiance, Ohio. MetalX highlights Gish’s extensive experience and leadership as crucial assets in its expansion into recycled-content aluminium production. “Gish is a highly respected figure in the aluminium industry, with a remarkable history of success,” the company states, emphasising the value he brings to their future growth. According to the company, Gish began his career at Logan Aluminium in Kentucky. He later held positions at Alcan Aluminium and joined Tri-Arrows Aluminium, also in Kentucky, where he served as Vice President of Operations. After his time at Tri-Arrows, Gish established a...
Canada is intensifying efforts to combat plastic waste by expanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs to address the nation's pressing environmental concerns. A 2018 World Bank report highlighted a stark reality: Canadians generate over 4 pounds of waste per person daily, more than double the global average. By 2050, this rate is projected to climb further. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) reveals that Canadians discard over 3 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, with plastic packaging constituting half of this total. Alarmingly, only 9 per cent of this plastic is recycled. In response to these statistics and under the pressure of climate change, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment advocates for significant reforms. The council strongly...
Constellium has officially inaugurated its new advanced recycling centre at its Neuf-Brisach facility in France. The €130 million investment, bolstered by the France Relance investment program, is a significant milestone for the company. It reinforces its presence in the automotive and packaging sectors while advancing its commitment to a circular and sustainable economy. The new centre will boost the plant's capacity to recycle automotive and packaging materials by up to 75 per cent, adding an impressive 130,000 tonnes to its operations. This expansion will also enable Constellium to increase the recycled content of its products, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally responsible materials in both the automotive and packaging industries. With this latest development,...
Every Can Counts, a prominent non-profit organisation working to raise awareness about the importance of aluminium cans recycling, has made a significant impact at festivals across the UK and Ireland by helping attendees recycle over 100,000 aluminium cans. This marked a Y-o-Y increase of 59 per cent while raising awareness about the importance of recycling. Over the past few months, 62 ambassadors from the non-profit organisation participated in numerous events, including the Download Festival, the Red Bull Soapbox Race, the Stendhal Festival, 2000 Trees, and the Latitude Festival. At each event, the team employed creative methods to collect aluminium cans, such as custom-designed recycling backpacks, striking cage installations, and festival-themed voting bins. Ambassadors at Download...
Re-turn, the operator of Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme, has teamed up with professional organiser Sarah Reynolds, the founder of Organised Chaos, to offer practical advice on storing aluminium cans and plastic bottles at home for recycling. According to Re-turn's research, three in five people wait until their bag of aluminium cans and plastic bottles is complete before taking them to their local Deposit Return Point. Sarah has shared convenient and innovative storage solutions suitable for any space to address this. She also provided tips on seamlessly integrating bottle and can returns into the schedule. For this Sarah suggested to designate a specific 'landing spot' for plastic bottles and cans at home. "For smaller spaces, consider a container or a box tucked into the corner of a...
On September 11, 2024, Hydro announced the commissioning of a new aluminium recycling plant in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, with an annual capacity of 90,000 tonnes. The plant will produce recycled aluminium products to meet the growing demand for secondary metals in the automotive sector. Initially, the recycling plant will begin with recycling 15,000 tonnes of post-consumer scrap annually and gradually increase the output in line with customers’ demands. President and CEO Eivind Kallevik said, “Our most ambitious customers in key industries like the automotive industry are pushing demand for low-carbon and recycled aluminium upwards. To serve this growing market and strengthen Hydro’s position as the leading provider of low-carbon and recycled aluminium solutions in Europe, we are set to...
Kentucky Aluminum Processors marked the groundbreaking ceremony of its much-awaited $40 million aluminium processing facility in Russellville. The new facility is expected to create 75 high-quality jobs in the region. Governor Andy Beshear made the announcement on Tuesday, September 10. The new facility will be functioning as an aluminium recycling plant and is a joint venture between Tri-Arrows Aluminum (TAA) and Tennessee Aluminum Processors (TAP). It will process dross and scrap material from TAA's casting centre at Logan Aluminum, producing molten aluminium and sows. These products will be returned to TAA's recycling and casting facilities at Logan Aluminum or other customer locations. The facility, situated on 37 acres, will accommodate essential equipment, storage, transportation,...
Metal recycling company Ecovery LLC has targeted to put into operation a secondary aluminium furnace with a 60,000-pound capacity at its processing facility in Loxley, Alabama, in September 2024. This furnace is Ecovery's second major capital expenditure project in 2024 and a second on-site rotary furnace. Earlier this year, Ecovery installed an X-ray sorting line to supply furnace-ready aluminium scrap to rolling mills in the Southeast and Midwest. Ecovery claims this new furnace will increase the company's melting capacity while enhancing dross processing and toll conversion services provided to customers. The company's CEO, Brack Norris, has shared that his family-owned business has diversified and expanded its operations several times in its 16-year journey. Originally, Ecovery used...
Costa Coffee, a British coffeehouse chain with headquarters in Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, England, has reportedly entered into a partnership with Podback to trial run coffee pod recycling. Podback, a UK-based coffee pod recycling service provider, will offer recycling assistance in 142 Costa Coffee stores across the UK. During the trial, customers at Costa Coffee stores will pick up free Podback recycling bags for coffee pod collection and return them once full for recycling. Podback recycling bags will be available in all 133 Costa Coffee stores located within Tesco stores across the UK and 9 Costa Coffee stores in the Swindon area. The objective of this programme is to offer a recycling option for packaging items what cannot be easily recycled at home or kerbside. To enable consumers...
Canadian Solar Inc. has formed a cradle-to-cradle strategic partnership with SOLARCYCLE, a leading U.S. solar recycling company, to deliver comprehensive recycling services to its customers in the United States. This partnership enables Canadian Solar to become one of the first crystalline silicon solar module manufacturers to provide comprehensive recycling services to its U.S. customers. "By including upfront recycling services as an add-on to the price of a solar module, Canadian Solar is helping to move the entire industry forward to ensure that we are truly sustainable, from cradle-to-cradle. We will look back on their leadership in this moment as one of the key strategies the solar industry used to embed our core values into our core operations," said Suvi Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder...
The UK's aluminium packaging recycling rate has once again shown significant gains in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024. As per the NPWD data, UK witnessed a 3 per cent increase in recycling volumes compared to the same period last year. Data from NPWD As per the data published by the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD), a total of 45,246 tonnes of aluminium packaging were collected for recycling during Q2 2024. This includes 29,831 tonnes from kerbside, bring, and on-the-go systems, reflecting a 4 per cent year-on-year rise. Additionally, 13,156 tonnes were recovered from incinerator bottom ash. So far this year, 84,222 tonnes of aluminium packaging have been collected, reaching 59 per cent of the annual target of 140,431 tonnes. The market is not only ahead of schedule but also on...
