U.S. government statistics show overseas buyers remained in the market for aluminum, copper and ferrous scrap.

Scrap traders may have encountered additional inspection systems and quality requirements in recent years, but trade figures continue to demonstrate that nations with fast-growing economies continue to pursue scrap metal generated in the United States.

U.S. status as a scrap surplus nation means data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau and aggregated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) portray that ports remain open to receive inbound scrap metal.

Those figures show the U.S. sent out some 2.1 million metric tons of aluminum scrap to other nations last year. Malaysia (which has recently enacted a scrap inspection system and new quality standards) was the No. 1 buyer of U.S. aluminum scrap, accepting 520,000 metric tons, or nearly 25 percent of outbound scrap.

The other major buyers of outbound U.S. aluminum scrap were India, 442,000 metric tons; South Korea, 284,000 metric tons; China (now including Hong Kong), 220,000 metric tons; Mexico, 167,000 metric tons; and Canada, 99,200 metric tons.

Ferrous scrap is the volume leader among scrap metals, a status upheld by the 17.9 million metric tons that flowed from the U.S. to overseas destinations last year. There is some crossover with aluminum in terms of leading buyers but also some different cast members.

In 2021, the leading overseas destinations for U.S. ferrous scrap were Turkey, 3.47 million metric tons; Mexico, 3.10 million metric tons; Malaysia, 1.45 million metric tons; Vietnam, 1.44 million metric tons; Taiwan, 1.42 million metric tons; and Bangladesh, 1.36 million metric tons.

Finally, high-value copper-bearing scrap in 2021 traveled many of the same routes. In the first 10 months of 2021, the most recent figures compiled by USGS, the largest buyers of U.S. copper-bearing scrap were China and Hong Kong, 216,700 metric tons; Malaysia, 134,210 metric tons; Canada, 97,600 metric tons; South Korea, 53,700 metric tons; and India, 41,880 metric tons.

Wisconsin-based U.S. Gain will supply renewable natural gas to Southern California county’s waste and recycling fleet.

Appleton, Wisconsin-based U.S. Gain says it has entered into a supply agreement, after a competitive bidding process, with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD). U.S. Gain will provide what it calls renewable natural gas (RNG) to fuel LACSD-owned fleet vehicles at two maintenance yards.

As part of its sustainability goals, LACSD received a Carl Moyer Program grant in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and South Coast Air Quality Management District to work toward guidelines for reduced air pollution. As part of the grant, LACSD solicited proposals to help support its emission reduction goal, improve fleet operations and find alternative solutions for fleet fueling.

“LACSD is very appreciative of the Carl Moyer grants received from the South Coast Air Quality Management District,” says Dave Bolderoff, LACSD’s fleet manager. “These grants have helped our agency replace older vehicles and engines with newer, cleaner-burning equipment and install alternative fuel infrastructure, thus helping us further fulfill our mission of protecting public health and the environment.”

A condition of this grant was finding a supplier that had RNG ready within a short time frame. U.S. Gain, which describes itself as a leader in the development and distribution of alternative fuel and renewable thermal energy, says its ability to supply fuel immediately “was a differentiator.”

“Demand for RNG continues to skyrocket within the California transportation market, serving as an affordable, clean solution that supports immediate emission reduction goals,” says Scott Hanstedt, U.S. Gain’s director of sales. “Our vertical integration and ability for expedited turnaround allowed us to act quickly and provide RNG on day one to comply with the grant requirements.”

LACSD describes itself as a public agency focused on converting waste into resources like recycled materials, recycled water and energy. The agency consists of 24 districts serving about 5.6 million people in Los Angeles County.

U.S. Gain says it develops renewable natural gas at farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and is building out “a platform of alternative fuel solutions that enable the polyfuel future [that] fleets demand.

The company says its Allison 3000 RDS transmission offers greater versatility for customers in 4x2 refuse, tank and dumping applications.

Mack Trucks, Greensboro, North Carolina, has announced the launch of the Allison 3000 RDS transmission for the Mack MD Series models. The company made the announcement during the 2022 Work Truck Show, March 8-11, at the Indiana Convention Center. 

According to a news release from Mack, the transmission adds more options for applications that require more power but are best suited for medium-duty vehicles. 

“Mack is pleased to now offer the Allison 3000 transmission as an option,” says Dayle Wetherell, vice president of medium-duty sales at Mack. “The transmission enables customers to haul more payload and utilize a live power takeoff (PTO), both of which are critical for our customers desiring a medium-duty vehicle that can handle demanding applications.” 

The company says the Allison 3000 RDS transmission offers greater versatility for customers in 4x2 refuse, tank and dump applications. The MD Series equipped with an Allison 3000 RDS transmission is approved at a 33,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for refuse and recycling applications, allowing the Mack MD to haul more. The Allison 3000 also allows for a live power PTO for MD Series tanker trucks delivering heating oil, water, fuel and propane and dump trucks, enabling the vehicle to move while using the PTO at the same time.  

“The ability to have a direct-drive PTO is extremely important for some of Mack’s medium-duty customers because they can lift and lower a dump body while driving without worrying about what gear the truck is in,” says Tim Wrinkle, construction product manager at Mack. “It’s also important for snowplows and salt spreaders that need to work at the same time.” 

The Allison 3000 RDS also offers a higher gross combination weight rating (GCWR), allowing customers to drive the Mack MD Series model and pull utility trailers with small excavators. The Mack MD Series equipped with an Allison 3000 RDS will have a GCWR of 45,000 pounds. 

The Mack MD Series can be specified to be a Class 6 with a GVWR of 25,995 pounds and a Class 7, with a GVWR of 33,000 pounds. With the MD Series, Mack now offers a lineup of vehicles from Class 6 to 8. Both MD Series models are exempt from the 12 percent federal excise tax. 

The MD Series meets a wide variety of needs for medium-duty trucking applications, including dry van/refrigerated, stake/flatbed, dump and tank truck vocations. The Class 6 model does not require a commercial driver’s license to operate for nonhazardous payloads. 

Customers interested in the Mack MD Series can visit Mack booth No. 3523 at the Work Truck Show in the Indiana Convention Center, their local Mack dealer or click here.

Suncast plans to develop products that incorporate recycled content. 

Cyclyx International, a consortium-based supply chain company based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has announced that Suncast, a Batavia, Illinois-based manufacturer of resin products, has joined its consortium. The company says the addition will aid its goal to increase plastic recycling from 10 percent to 90 percent. 

According to a news release from Cyclyx, founded by chemical recycling company Agilyx, Tigard, Oregon, Suncast specializes in home and garden and storage products. By joining the consortium, the company plans to develop products that incorporate recycled content.  

“Zero waste and recycled content are key components of our brilliant-by-design sustainability platform,” says Jim Ahlborn, CEO of Suncast. “By working with Cyclyx and our retail partners, we’ll be able to implement first-of-their-kind takeback programs so fewer products end up in landfills at the end of their useful lives, and we’ll collaborate with companies that can help us source even more recycled content for our products.”  

Suncast’s membership in Cyclyx gives it access to designs and customized takeback programs and innovations, including plastic waste-based circular feedstock specifications tailored to its specific product pathways. This allows for the inclusion of higher amounts of recycled content in its products.  

“We are happy to welcome Suncast to the Cyclyx consortium,” says Joe Vaillancourt, CEO of Cyclyx. “Suncast’s focus on sustainability and enthusiasm for advancing circular solutions will help us to direct more plastic waste toward its best use and will be a great bolster to our effort to help drive the recycling rate of plastic from 10 percent to 90 percent.” 

Mid America began operations in 2000 and recycles 1.5 billion pounds of scrap annually.

Schupan and Sons Inc., a materials recycler, processor, distributor and manufacturer based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has acquired Des Moines, Iowa-based Mid America Recycling.   

“Mid America Recycling’s multimaterial recycling and deposit container operations align perfectly with being an industry leader in providing sustainable, high-quality, recycled materials,” says Tom Emmerich, Schupan’s chief operating officer. “Mid America has been a recycling leader in Iowa for years and has a knowledgeable team with strong customer relationships.”   

Nationally recognized for its Michigan deposit container processing system, the acquisition of Mid America Recycling also aligns with Schupan’s strategic growth plans, domestically and abroad, says Marc Schupan, CEO of Schupan.   

The company says it looks forward to getting to know its new employees and learning more about the Iowa marketplace.   

“While we are certainly excited to hit the ground in Iowa, we know we must first get to know our new employees and build relationships with Iowa distributors, retailers, the legislature and communities,” says Emmerich.      

Mid America Recycling began operations in 1979 in response to the passage of Iowa’s bottle bill. The company’s professional management, plant and administrative team has more than 200 years of combined recycling industry experience.  The company says it recycles 1.5 billion pounds of scrap annually.  

“I have known the Schupan organization for years and have always respected the way they operate and treat people,” says Mick Barry, co-owner and president of Mid America. “I strongly believe we are leaving our company in the right hands.” 

EDITORS' NOTE: Recycling Today has reached out to Schupan and Mid America Recycling for more details.