Rio Tinto extends sustainable aluminium agreement with Scepter

Rio Tinto announced that it has extended the agreement with Scepter for an additional ten years. Rio has renewed the contract for the treatment of by-product from the aluminium smelting process known as "skims" in Quebec, Canada. Scepter, an internationally recognized leader in aluminium dross and scrap recycling, will invest approximately three million dollars to further improve the efficiency of its recycling process.

Rio Tinto Aluminium Managing Director Atlantic Operations Gervais Jacques said: "This partnership demonstrates our commitment to responsible production and to realizing the full environmental benefits from aluminium as a recyclable material. Instead of going to landfill, the by-product from our smelting processes is being recycled and used by Scepter to deliver specialized materials, a win-win outcome. The technology that makes this possible was pioneered by Rio Tinto's Research and Development Centre here in Saguenay, Quebec."

Scepter president and CEO, Garney B. Scott said: "This multimillion dollar investment represents a long-term commitment for Scepter to serve Rio Tinto, while simultaneously growing and securing the jobs we provide in Saguenay. Our company will continue to strive and invest in sustainable solutions like environmentally friendly dross processing that can recycle residual sub products."

The treatment of aluminium skims is executed by a unique electric plasma arc process and allows Scepter to recycle an average of 60% of the aluminium from the skims.