US aluminium can recycling drops but still leads in drinks packaging

The latest data from the Aluminum Association and the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) highlights a decline in the recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in the United States.

In 2023, 43% of cans shipped in the country were recycled, a notable drop from the average rate of 52% recorded since 1990. This comes amidst challenges such as outdated recycling infrastructure and limited recycling policy initiatives. Despite the decrease, the aluminium beverage can remains the most recycled drinks package, outperforming glass at 39.6% and plastic (PET) bottles at 20.0%.

A report titled 'The Aluminum Can Advantage: Sustainability Key Performance Indicators' underscores the sustainability strengths of aluminium cans. The closed-loop circularity rate, reflecting the ability of materials to be reused for the same purpose, stands at 96.7% for aluminium cans, far exceeding PET bottles at 34% and glass bottles, which range between 30-60%. The average recycled content of aluminium cans in the U.S. is reported at 71%, compared to 23% for glass bottles and 3-10% for PET bottles.

Additionally, the financial value of aluminium cans in the recycling system remains significantly higher than alternatives. With a two-year rolling average value of $1,338 per tonne, aluminium far surpasses PET at $215 per tonne and glass, which carries a negative value of $23 per tonne.

Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association, said: Our current approach to recycling in America is simply not working at the level we need. While we recycled more than 46 billion cans in 2023, we threw away more than 61 billion cans – that’s an average of around 15 twelve-packs of cans for each person in the country. That’s nearly $1.2 billion worth of aluminium that ends up in a landfill every year. This is bad for the economy, the environment and national security. It also puts the United States toward the bottom of aluminium can recycling compared to peer countries.

The industry recycling rate, inclusive of all used beverage containers (UBCs) within the U.S. industry supply chain, is at 57%, close to the 30-year average of approximately 60%. While the report shows some advantages in circularity and value, it also notes the ongoing decline in overall recycling rates, indicating room for improvement in policy and recycling infrastructure.