Aluminum Association targeting more US states to raise UBC recycling: conference

The Aluminum Association is working to target additional US states where container deposit programs can be established, noting that just a few more state-level programs could drastically increase the nation's recycling rate of aluminum used beverage cans that are critical for future low-carbon aluminum supplies, CEO Charles Johnson said Jan. 31.

"The US aluminum industry relies disproportionally on the ten states and Guam that have deposit programs to bring back cans.," Johnson said during a presentation at the S&P Global Platts Aluminum Symposium. "Research has documented that while the deposit states consume about a quarter of our beverage cans, of the subset that are recycled, they generate a third of that volume."

Johnson said the success of container deposit programs in the states that have them is proof of their effectiveness, and this has motivated the Aluminum Association to work with the Can Manufacturers Institute in other regions.

"We do need to look at some more state targets, and we need to implement reasonable deposit legislation in those states," he added. "In just a few states, if we target correctly and if we can move the needle on this, it can have a profound effect on the entire country's recycling rate."

However, Johnson declined to comment regarding which states are currently being target for the association's efforts.

On the federal level, Johnson said he hoped the recently signed infrastructure act, which includes about $700 million to boost overall US recycling efforts through education initiatives, will provide an opportunity for the Aluminum Association to work with the government on recycling policy and infrastructure.

"Partnering with the federal government and finding new and better solutions for how we do this is important," he said. "Also, the technology matters, so we're asking for technology investments that help us improve scrap reclamation and sorting."

In late 2021, the Aluminum Association and CMI jointly announced a commitment to increase UBC recycling rates in the US from the current 45% to a target 70% by 2030.