CMI members target to achieve 70% aluminium cans recycling rate by 2030

Can Manufacturers Institute’s (CMI) beverage can manufacturers and aluminum can sheet producer members are targeting to achieve the United States ambitious recycling rates including a 70 per cent recycling rate by 2030. The objective is to improve the circularity of aluminum beverage can, while demonstrating its sustainability to beverage companies and consumers.

In 2020, the United States aluminum beverage can recycling rate was 45 per cent. The industry aims to increase it to 70 per cent by 2030, 80 per cent by 2040, and more than 90 per cent by 2050.

CMI members are also committed to make new cans from old aluminum beverage cans. There are nearly 90,000 aluminum beverage cans recycled every minute in the United States, with 93 per cent going from the recycling bin back to store shelf in as little as 2 months. This advance can-to-can recycling results in new beverage cans with 73 per cent recycling content, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent compared to making cans from primary aluminum.

If the can industry’s new recycling rate targets are achieved, the US recycling system stands to gain as aluminum beverage cans are one of the most valuable commodities in the country’s recycling stream, generating nearly half of the revenue of those recyclables.

CMI’s approach to achieving its recycling rate goals are as follows:

• It will accelerate the implementation of well-designed deposit systems at the state and federal levels
• It will increase and improve household and away-from-home recycling
• It will more properly sort cans at recycling centres
• Educate consumers on the importance of aluminum can recycling

 CMI members supporting the targets are Ardagh Metal Packaging, Canpack, Crown Holdings, Envases, Constellium, Kaiser Aluminum, Novelis, Tri-Arrows Aluminum.

In early 2022, the industry will publish a more detail roadmap of the new targets.