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Brazil becomes world UBC recycling leader

With Alcan's help, Brazil is now the worldwide leader in recycling used aluminum beverage cans (UBC) in countries where recycling is not mandatory. Brazil's 87% recycling rate surpassed the Japanese recycling rate of 83.1% to achieve top spot.

Alcan, as the largest aluminum recycling company in South America, accounted for some 62% of the total UBCs processed, or approximately 76,000 tonnes of aluminum cans, in addition to what is recycled from internal and customer process scrap. This is up from 29% of all UBCs collected in 2001. Alcan represents the biggest individual purchaser of aluminum can scrap in Brazil.

Recycling reduces mineral and power consumption and is a way of life for many in Brazil, with approximately 150,000 people relying on it as their means of livelihood. One kg of aluminum cans is worth more than 33 times the equivalent in steel cans, 39 times more than coloured glass and 6 times more than PET containers.

The Alcan Recycling Centre, in Pindamonhangaba (São Paulo) has an 80,000-tonne annual processing capacity. Recycling plays a strategic role for Alcan in Brazil, as it accomplishes a social, economic and environmental function.