Aluminum Cans: The Sustainable Packaging Choice – Part 2

According to a new report released by the Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and Institute of Recycling Industries (ISRI), aluminum cans are today the most recycled and highest value beverage container on the market today. The new report was released ahead of the Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start of summer, during which time can shipments typically increase by as much as 20% over other months.

In the second of a series of entries, we’ll take a look at how the aluminum can is impacting recycling today.

Consumer Recycling Rate

The consumer recycling rate for aluminum cans, which measures domestic consumer recycling behavior, was up nearly 2 points to 56.7 percent in 2014, the highest rate reported since 1997 and a more than 12-point improvement since earlier in the decade. This compares to consumer recycling rates in the low-to-mid 30s for glass and plastic bottles.

(Imagery courtesy of the Aluminum Association)