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FIGURE 6.4 Baled aluminum UBCs ready for shipping to a container manufacturer.

6.9.3 SPECIFICATIONS FOR RECOVERED ALUMINUM CANS
Collection centers and other buyers accept cans that are free of gross contamination such as dirt
and food wastes. The buyers then compact and bale the material according to mill specifications
regarding dimension and weight. Noncontainer aluminum products purchased by scrap dealers
must simply be dry and free of contamination; the dealers collect and bale the material for
shipment to users. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries has developed a set of standard
specifications for a number of recycled commodities. Typical specifications for preparing alu-
minum beverage can scrap for sale to an aluminum recycling company are presented in Table 6.6
(ISRI, 2002).
There are stringent quality requirements at U.S. mills for aluminum scrap. Aluminum UBCs
must be relatively clean and free from dirt, oil, grease, and other surface contaminants. Iron, alu-
minum foil, and other types of aluminum scrap are unacceptable if mixed in the bales. Any con-
tamination with lead, copper, brass, and other nonferrous metal may result in immediate rejection.
All flammables, paper, and plastic should be removed prior to baling and cans must be relatively
dry. All incoming material is tested for moisture by the receiving mills. They generally have a
threshold of 4% allowable moisture. The mills will accept loads with a higher moisture content but
will deduct for any moisture over 2% as a penalty for wet loads (CMI, 2002).

6.9.4 BENEFITS OF ALUMINUM RECYCLING
Aluminum manufacturers such as Reynolds and Alcoa have actively promoted recycling since the
mid-1960s. The aluminum industry recognized the advantages of a domestic aluminum supply and
therefore established the necessary infrastructure for transportation and processing. While other
industries have resisted recycling programs and mandatory container deposit legislation, the alu-
minum industry has developed collection and processing centers, a transportation network, and
reclamation plants. Recycling makes economic sense to manufacturers for several reasons:

● Recycling provides a stable, domestic source of aluminum. In contrast, most of the baux-
ite required to produce new aluminum must be imported, and 4 lb of bauxite is required
to produce each pound of new metal.