39Scrap Collection
percentages in various areas of the world. Collection rates are currently highest in
Brazil and Japan, at well over 80%. The European rate masks considerable differ-
ences between countries. In northern Europe, mandatory deposit legislation has
pushed recycling rates to levels above 70% (Gitlitz, 2003; Green, 2006; Woehlke,
2011).
A note of concern can be found in the UBC recycling statistics for the United
States shown in Figure 3.4. From a high of 67% in the early 1990s, the percentage
of cans produced by the US aluminum industry that were processed for recycling
fell to just over 50% in 2002 (Woehlke, 2011). Reasons for this include (Gitlitz,
2003):
• The low price of aluminum. This is reected in a lower price for alum ...