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The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), which uses 65% of all copier paper among government agencies, recently announced plans to purchase only recycled-content paper from the General Services Administration (GSA). However, the DOD will buy the 20-percent post-consumer content paper only as long as it remains less expensive than virgin paper.

The DOD switch has prompted several other agencies, including the Veterans Administration and the Energy and Justice Departments, to buy only recycled-content paper from the GSA.

Source: ISRI Digest 6/6/97

Japan's aluminum can recycling rate hit a record high of 70.2 percent in the year ended March 31, up from 65.7 percent in the previous 12 months.

Source: American Metal Market 6/19/97

According to the "Scrap Tire Use-Disposal study" conducted by Scrap Tire Management Council, markets--including tire derived fuel, ground rubber, and civil engineering applications--consumed 75 percent of the scrap tires generated in 1996.

Source: ISRI Digest 6/20/97

Carol Browner, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has signed the final rulemaking that changes the agency's classification of scrap and confirms that scrap is not a solid waste. Herschel Cutler, senior advisor to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), stated that "EPA's action in these regulations is the largest step taken by government to date to recognize that these distinctions are essential to any effort to encourage recycling and discourage waste disposal.

Source: Recycling Today 6/97

The U.S. scrap paper industry collected 42.3 million tons of secondary fiber in 1996, boosting the paper recovery rate to a record 44.8 percent, according to the American Forest & Paper Association (Washington, D.C.).

U.S. paper producers consumed 34.3 million tons--the largest one-year jump in the industry's history, the association says.

By grade, recovery of OCC totaled 21.6 million tons for a recycling rate of 73 percent last year, while an estimated 7.4 million tons of ONP, or 62.8 percent, was recycled, the association reports.

Source: July/August 1997 SCRAP

The U.S. aluminum industry, speaking through the Washington-based Aluminum Association, has pledged to boost its aluminum beverage can-recycling rate by nearly 18 billion cans a year, or 28 percent, within four years.

The increase would add nearly 590 million pounds of can stock to the annual supply. At nearly 80.4 billion aluminum beverage cans a year, the total used beverage can harvest would be more that 1.2 million metric tons a year.

Source: American Metal Market 7/11/97

According to a survey of aluminum scrap conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, metal recovered from old and new scrap reached a historic high of about 3.3 million tons in 1996.

Source: August 1997 Recycling Today

The first annual "America Recycles Day," will take place on November 15,1997. The event is aimed at seeking the public's increased support for recycling. Vice President Al Gore has agreed to serve as the honorary chairman. The event's major goal is to educate the public to " Buy Recycled" and thus to stimulate market development for all recyclables.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) has become an official sponsor and is providing the winning American family with four round-trip airline tickets to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Event sponsors will hold a press conference on the lawn of the US. Capitol in Washington D.C., on September 30, 1997 to launch the event. For further details contact Evelyn Haught , 202/662-8527; email: EvelynHaught@compuserve.com.

Source: ISRI Digest 9/5/97

According to The Aluminum Association, Washington, auntomakers consumed 3.607 million pounds of aluminum in 1996, up 7.9 percent over the previous year. On average, passenger cars manufactured in 1996 contained more than 250 pounds of aluminum. According to the association, that figure represents a rather significant 32 percent increase over the 191 pounds used per vehicle just five years earlier.

Source: October 1997 Recycling Today

The Aluminum Association reports a 4-billion can recycling gain in 1997. The used beverage can (UBC) recycling rate jumped to 66.8 billion from 62.8 billion in 1996. The industry's UBC harvest was up 83 million pounds to a total of 2.05 billion pounds. According to the Aluminum Association, the Can Manufacturers and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, the public was paid $1.03 billion for its UBC recycling efforts.

Source: March 9, 1998 American Metal Market

During the first four months of 1999, UBC recycling was 58 percent; for the same period in 1998, the rate was 62 percent.

The basis of caculating the number of UBC's to the pound has changed.  The pound weight factor is 33.04 cans per pound.

Year-to-date (1/1/99-4/30/99), 542 million pounds of aluminum cans have been recycled; a decrease of 14 million pounds during the same period a year ago.

Source: March 14, 1999 Golden Metals Trading