Sustainable Aluminium Recycling: Closing the Loop

As founding members of the CAB Closed Loop Recycling Scheme, Dales is committed to ensuring that the aluminium used in construction is recycled in a way that preserves both its quality and value for future generations. This commitment resonates with the theme of this year’s Recycle Week, ‘Rescue me’, which highlights the importance of recovering valuable materials from waste. 

CAB Closed Loop Recycling Scheme:

The CAB Closed Loop Recycling Scheme, led by the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB), is designed to ensure that aluminium used in construction is recycled without compromising its quality and value.

What is Closed-Loop Recycling?

Through working with aluminium daily, Dales recognises its incredible potential and understand that, if approached correctly, aluminium can be recycled infinitely.

Unlike open-loop recycling which recycles aluminium into different products, often of lower quality, in a closed-loop system, aluminium is recycled back into the same product type without any loss of quality. This means that the aluminium can be continuously reused for the same applications, preserving its material properties and value.

Environmental Impact:

• Resource Conservation: The scheme reduces the need for raw aluminium extraction, helping to conserve natural resources and lessening environmental impact.

• Energy Efficiency: Recycling aluminium requires only about 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminium from raw materials. By keeping aluminium within a closed-loop system, the scheme supports energy conservation and reduces the carbon footprint associated with aluminium production.

• Waste Reduction: Reusing aluminium products repeatedly minimizes the amount of waste sent to landfills, reducing environmental pollution.

• Traceability and Certification: The Closed Loop Recycling Scheme allows aluminium to be tracked throughout its lifecycle, ensuring that it is recycled within the closed-loop system. Participants can also certify that their aluminium has been recycled according to the scheme’s standards, providing transparency and reassurance to architects, builders, and consumers about the sustainability of their products.

Partnership:

Collaboration is encouraged between fabricators, manufacturers, and recyclers, streamlining the collection, recycling, and reuse of aluminium. By working together, the environmental benefits of aluminium can be maximised, and more sustainable building practices can be supported.