Japan Steel Can Recycling Association announced on Thursday the averaged steel beverage can weight decreased by 4.06% or 1.45 gram per unit in fiscal 2010 ended March 2011 from the benchmark of fiscal 2004. The industry cleared voluntary targeted 2% reduction per year for 3 years in a row.
Japanese steel can recycling rate increased by 0.3 percentage point to 89.4% in fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009, which renewed the record for 2 years in a row, according to the association. The rate is higher than 85% of guideline by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for 10 years in a row. The rate increased in fiscal 2010 when domestic ferrous scrap demand increased along with steel output recovery from the aftermath of the recession in fiscal 2009. The recycling rare improves when steel makers purchase steel can scrap stably as high grade steel source while the recycling is supported by better recycling activities including shredder treatment by recyclers and separate waste collection by local governments. Japanese steel can consumption decreased by 2.0% to 685,000 tonnes in fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009. The steel recycling volume decreased by 1.8% to 612,000 tonnes. The recycling rate represented year-on-year increase since fiscal 2008.
