Packaging

Rexam beverage can plants take lead in US community aluminium recycling efforts

Friday 12. March 2010 - Rexam's North American beverage can (BCNA) plants are playing a leading role in local community aluminium can recycling efforts. By teaming with their local communities, the BCNA network collected a total of nearly 3 million lbs (c 1,350 tonnes) of aluminium cans during a six week company and industry wide contest leading up to America's Recycle Day on 15 November 2009.

Rexam’s Chatsworth, California, plant was the winner of the annual recycling competition with an extraordinary total of 1,010,118 lbs (approx 460 tonnes) of aluminium cans – 7,711 lbs (3.5 tonnes) per employee. Chatsworth accomplished this by working closely with local charity and recycling organisations to promote can collection and recycling.

Rexam’s Fairfield, California, plant came in second place by collecting 560,788 lbs (c 254 tonnes) of cans, or 6,096 lbs (c 2.7 tonnes) per employee. The St. Paul, Minnesota, plant, last year’s winner, rounded out the top three with a total of 565,087 lbs (c 256 tonnes), which translates to 5,331 lbs (c 2.4 tonnes) per employee.

These efforts earned Rexam the top three spots in the 2009 Aluminium Can Council’s (ACC) Aluminum Can Recycling Challenge. The ACC’s national competition, which coincides with Rexam’s annual contest, challenges aluminum suppliers and can manufacturers across the US to collect the most pounds of recycled cans per employee from 1 September to 15 November.

Graham Chipchase, Rexam’s chief executive, commented: “In order to protect what we have today and ensure a successful long term future for ourselves, our customers and all our stakeholders, we aim to continually improve our stewardship of the resources we use. This tremendous effort by our BCNA people aligns completely with our focus on managing our business in a responsible and sustainable manner. Our plants have done an exceptional job of leading and mobilising their communities to demonstrate how important it is to recycle the beverage can and what can be achieved.”