FROM: The Container Recycling Institute
RE: 1998 aluminum can recycling rate was 55.4% NOT 62.8% as reported by
the Aluminum Association
The large volume of scrap aluminum cans brought into the U.S. from abroad
results in an inflated aluminum can recycling rate as reported by the
Aluminum Association. The number of scrap aluminum cans imported increased
significantly in recent years, growing from 2 billion in 1991 to 7.9 billion
in 1998. Including imported scrap cans in the domestic recovered used
beverage container (ubc) volume artificially increases the aluminum can
recycling rate and distorts the picture of U.S. aluminum can recycling.
In short, by including the imported scrap aluminum cans in the domestic
recovered cans inflates the aluminum can recycling rate by approximately
12%. The 7.9 billion imported scrap cans are not included in the 101.3
billion cans sold in the U.S. and should not be included in the 64 billion
cans recycled.
In the fall of 1997 the aluminum industry announced a 75 percent recycling
goal for aluminum cans, a goal we find both admirable and ambitious. We
applaud the aluminum industry's efforts to maximize recovery of aluminum
cans and their voluntary establishment of this recycling goal. Including
imported scrap aluminum cans in the number of scrap cans recycled
compromises the integrity of that pursuit.
CRI along with the GrassRoots Recycling Network and the Institute for Local
Self-Reliance requested a meeting with members of the Aluminum Association
to discuss their methodology, prior to the release of the 1998 numbers. Our
request was politely rejected.
We will soon have detailed information on the 1998 aluminum can recycling
rate on our web site. In the meantime, here are CRI's calculations and the
Aluminum Association's calculations for determining the 1998 aluminum
beverage can recycling rate.
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Container Recycling Institute Calculations
Scrap Cans Recycled in Aluminum Cans Recycling Rate
US Excluding Imported Produced for Excluding Exported
Scrap Cans US Consumption Scrap Cans
(billions) (billions)
56.1 divided by 101.3 = 55.4%
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Aluminum Association Calculations
Aluminum Cans Recycled Aluminum Cans Recycling Rate
as reported by Produced in US as reported by
Aluminum Association as reported by Aluminum Association
(in billions) Aluminum Association (includes imported
(includes scrap cans) (in billions) scrap cans)
64.0 divided by 102.0 = 62.8%
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Pat Franklin, Executive Director
Container Recycling Institute
1911 Ft. Myer Drive Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22209
703/276-9800 fax 276-9587
email: cri@igc.org
web: www.container-recycling.org