Brock Applauds Senate Passage of Resolution to Encourage Recycling

The Aluminum Association applauded the U.S. Senate for its November 16 passage of Senate Resolution 251, "a resolution expressing support for improvement in the collection, processing, and consumption of recyclable materials throughout the United States."

"The aluminum industry commends U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) for introducing this resolution—and to the U.S. Senate for its unanimous endorsement of it," said Heidi Brock, President of the Aluminum Association. "Recycled aluminum provides an essential feedstock to the aluminum industry, and we strongly support efforts to encourage and expand recycling of aluminum and other high-value materials—particularly among consumers," she added.

The Aluminum Association joined fellow members of the Recycling Roundtable—the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, the Steel Recycling Institute, the Solid Waste Association of North America, the National Solid Waste Management Association, the American Forest and Paper Association, and the Paper Recycling Coalition—to develop and promote the resolution, which was introduced into the Senate in early August.

The resolution notes that, while municipal recycling rates in the U.S. increased from 6.6 percent in 1970 to 28.6 percent in 2000, the rate of increase has since slowed considerably. It expresses support for, among other things:

• A competitive marketplace for recyclable materials;
• Policies that recognize and promote recyclable materials as essential economic commodities, rather than wastes;
• Research and development of new technologies to remove materials that are impediments to recycling, such as radioactive material and mercury-containing devices.

"In addition to its economic value, recycled aluminum is a great benefit to the environment," Brock noted. "Recycled aluminum uses only 5 percent of the energy, and generates only 5 percent of the emissions, associated with the manufacture of primary aluminum."

"The Aluminum Association will continue to work with our industry partners, and with downstream users of our metal, to educate the public as to the sustainable nature of aluminum—and its value to society," Brock concluded.