A beverage can is a metal container designed to hold a fixed portion of liquid such as a carbonated soft drink, alcoholic beverage, fruit juice, herbal tea etc. Beverage cans are made of aluminium (75% of worldwide production) or tin plated steel (25% worldwide production). Worldwide production for all beverage cans is approximately 52 billion units. Aluminium recycling is the process by which scrap aluminium can be reused in products after its initial production. The process involves simply re melting the metal, which is far less expensive and energy intensive than creating new aluminium through the electrolysis of aluminium oxide (Al2O3), which must first be mined from bauxite ore and then refined using the Bayer process. Recycling scrap aluminium requires only 5% of the energy used to make new aluminium. For this reason, approximately 31% of all aluminium produced in the United States comes from recycled scrap. Used beverage containers are the largest component of processed aluminium scrap, with most UBC scrap manufactured back into aluminium cans. Ingot and billet play an integral part in the production of many aluminium products. Plate, sheet, foil, wire, rod, and bar products are all produced by pressing or rolling ingot and billet. Ingot and billet are cast from molten aluminium. In the cast house, crucibles of molten aluminium empty their silvery liquid either directly into molds or into a holding furnace where the metal is kept molten at temperatures between 1,200 and 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Alloying elements are then added. Most metal is cast by the direct chill (DC) process, which produces huge sheet ingot for rolling mills, round log like billet for extrusion presses, or square billet for production of wire, rod, and bar. Advantages The recycling of aluminium generally produces significant cost savings over the production of new aluminium even when the cost of collection, separation and recycling are taken into account Over the long term, even larger national savings are made when the reduction in the capital costs associated with landfills, mines and international shipping of raw aluminium are considered. Aluminium recycling is economically beneficial to both the aluminium and recycling industry. The capital cost for the production of recycled aluminium is already recognized to be far lower than making new aluminium. The financial benefit has also spurred the development of the recycling program. The price of scrap aluminium has fluctuated in the market but its traditionally high value has generated enough income. Aluminium cans are the poster child of the recycling movement. This is by far the most valuable component in the solid waste stream. The aluminium can is also the most recognized recyclable item among household waste. The aluminium beverage can is 100 percent recyclable into new beverage cans indefinitely demonstrating recycling at its finest. Aluminium can recycling helps fund the entire collection system. The aluminium can is the only packaging material that more than covers the cost of collection and re processing for itself. It also helps subsidize the collection of other recyclable materials. Market Survey The worldwide capacity to produce alumina was placed at around 80 mn tonnes in 2007 and was slated to touch 100 mn tonnes in 2010. Alumina accounts for about 22% of the cost in the production of aluminium. India's share in world aluminium market is estimated at around 3%. India ranks fifth in bauxite production after Australia (62 mn tonnes), Guinea (17.50 mn tonnes), Brazil (16.20 mn tonnes) and China (10.75 mn tonnes). With a total output of 9.25 mn tonnes, the country contributes about 6% of the world's total production of 159 mn tonnes, India holds the fifth position in reserves base and is ahead of China with 2300 mn tonnes. India ranked seventh in alumina production with a total output of 3 mn tonnes, a share of nearly 5% of the global production of 61 mn tonnes. However, internationally, the pattern of consumption is in favour of transportation, primarily due to large scale aluminium consumption by the aviation industry. White goods account for nearly 5% of aluminium consumption in the country. The products include electric fans, air conditioners, refrigerators and coolers. The white goods industry uses both extruded products and flats. In the transportation sector, aluminium is used for panelling, floors and windows. So far, it is not used for structural parts and bodies of automobiles. An Indian car uses only about 54 kg of aluminium against a global average of 100 to 110 kg. This sets the high potential for growth with the increase in the automobile sector. Demand for aluminium is estimated to grow at 4 to 6% per annum. The demand for the metal is expected to pick up as the scenario improves for user industries like power, infrastructure and transportation, which are all on the move.
