Alcoa Combining Aluminum Recycling Groups

Alcoa Inc. said it is merging two of its aluminum recycling units into one organization, called Alcoa Recycling.

The Pittsburgh-based aluminum producer is combining its Evermore Recycling group, which recycles aluminum in the packaging market, with its aluminum scrap purchasing group that recycles aluminum used in markets such as aerospace, automotive and industrial.

Alcoa believes combining the two groups will increase the amount of aluminum converted into new products, the company said in a news release.

With its used beverage container (UBC) and aluminum scrap groups, Alcoa recycled approximately 1.4 billion pounds of external aluminum in 2012. By combining the two groups, the company will be able to use their strengths in a more focused manner, said Michael Boyle, director of metal management at Alcoa. He will oversee the combined group.

“The vast majority of our partners in the marketplace have the capability to supply both scrap and UBCs to Alcoa for recycling,” he said.

The new Alcoa Recycling organization will work with customers in a variety of markets to build upon the large number of closed-loop recycling programs the company has with customers, as well as implement supply chain efforts with suppliers to increase aluminum recycling.