ENVIRONMENT
Brazil Aluminium Can Recycling
Brazil is arguably the world's best global citizen when it comes to aluminium recycling, achieving an astounding 98.4 percent recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in 2014.
9 February, 2016
According to the Brazilian Aluminium Association (ABAL) and the Brazilian Association of Highly Recyclable Cans Manufacturers (ABRALATAS), Brazilians recycled 289,500 tons of aluminium cans out of 294,200 tons on the market, representing 12.5 percent over the previous year. Since 2001, Brazil has been the world leader in can recycling, with the 22.9 billion cans kept out of the landfill last year corresponding to 2.6 million cans every hour.
ABAL Recycling Market Committee coordinator Mario Fernandez credited both the maturity and structure of recycling in Brazil for his country's world-class performance:
ABAL Recycling Market Committee coordinator Mario Fernandez credited both the maturity and structure of recycling in Brazil for his country's world-class performance:
For over ten years we have been the country with the highest rate of aluminum cans recycling worldwide, sustaining a performance of over 90 percent. This demonstrates both the maturity level and the structure for the Brazilian recycling market. This is an increasingly outstanding market for the industry, the society and the environment.
The Brazilian population's highly successful efforts to collect aluminium, which is infinitely recyclable and allows for up to 95 percent energy savings when recycled instead of being made for the first time, injected 845 million Brazilian Real (over $270 million USD) into the national economy in 2014. In terms of energy savings, the nearly 290,000 tons recycled that year saved 4,250 gigawatt hours per year in electricity, enough to provide power to 6.6 million people in two million homes for an entire year. With a 98 percent aluminium recycling rate, manufacturing aluminium cans in Brazil produces 70 percent less CO2 and uses 65 percent less water than producing from only primary aluminium would require.
Since 2001, aluminium can recycling in Brazil has set a global standard for efficiency. In 2009 as well, the Brazilian recycling rate stood at 98.2 percent. In that year, 216,000 people looked to collecting aluminium cans as a source of income, bringing significant economic as well as environmental benefits. The success of recycling efforts can be attributed to several factors, including cooperation among aluminium sheet and can manufacturers and recycling companies, educational campaigns by the Brazilian government, and a 2010 law requiring businesses minimize and manage their waste.
Aluminium scrap is also highly valuable in Brazil, making citizens eager to use recycling facilities which are easily accessible in every region of the country. Pindamonhangaba in São Paulo State, where Alcan (now known as Novelis) first set up a beverage can factory in the 1970s, was named the "Brazilian Capital of Aluminium" by the ABAL in 2003.
In 2009, recycling companies in Pindamonhangaba have enough capacity to process 250 tons of aluminium scrap. ABAL also sets October 28 as "National Aluminium Recycling Day" every year, using it as an opportunity to promote recycling to students and wider society.
Photo by Discovering Sao Paolo
In 2009, recycling companies in Pindamonhangaba have enough capacity to process 250 tons of aluminium scrap. ABAL also sets October 28 as "National Aluminium Recycling Day" every year, using it as an opportunity to promote recycling to students and wider society.
Photo by Discovering Sao Paolo
Moving forward, the aluminium industry will continue playing a key role in Brazil's economy. Novelis, which is the largest recycler and producer of rolled aluminium, now operates three plants in Brazil and earmarked $35 million USD to expand recycling capacity at its Pindamonhangaba facility. The company aims to use 80 percent recycled content in its products by 2020 and sees its South American operations as a key part of achieving that goal. According to Tadeu Nardocci, president of Novelis South America: "Our goal is to continue with our expansion strategy for this region."