Igora Cooperative for Aluminum Recycling Switzerland
| Igora cooperative for aluminum recycling
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| legal form | cooperative |
| founding | 1989 |
| Seat | Zurich , Switzerland |
| management | Markus Tavernier ( Managing Director ) Robert Bühler (President of Administration) |
| Number of employees | 8th |
| sales | 6 million CHF |
| Branch | recycling |
| Website | www.igora.ch |
The Igora-Genossenschaft für Aluminum-Recycling is a cooperatively organized Swiss company for the collection of aluminum packaging for recycling and is based in Zurich . Cooperative members are actors in the beverage, pet food bowl, food tube and aluminum industries as well as trade.
history
In 1989 the Federal Council threatened to ban the aluminum beverage can . The background to this was the heavy pollution of cities and the countryside from incorrectly disposed of beverage cans ( littering ). Together with the beverage and aluminum industry, the Igora cooperative developed a private collection and recycling concept in 1989. The core of this industry solution is the voluntarily advanced recycling fee VRB (no deposit, no fine). In 1989 the VRB was 5 cents per can sold and has fallen continuously. Today it is 1 centime per can (December 31, 2009). There is also an early recycling fee of 1 centimes per packaging on food tubes and pet food trays made of aluminum. With these early contributions, the collection logistics are operated, collective allowances are paid out and a wide range of communication is financed.
In cooperation with municipalities and cities, the retail trade, Igora members, the waste materials trade, the processing centers and recycling plants, Igora is committed to an optimal collection and recycling system. In 1989, 31 percent of used aluminum cans were collected for recycling. In 1999 around 90 percent of the aluminum sold was collected and recycled. Since the turn of the millennium, the return rate for aluminum cans in Switzerland has leveled off at 91 percent. President is (2010) Robert Bühler and Managing Director Markus Tavernier. Most of the recycling organizations in Switzerland are grouped together in the Swiss Recycling Association. IGORA is a member of Swiss Recycling.
Collection logistics
Igora has operated a dense network of aluminum collection points since 1989. Almost all of the roughly 2,600 Swiss municipalities have at least one aluminum collection point operated by the municipality (household aluminum). For every ton of household aluminum collected, the municipality receives 100 francs compensation from the Igora cooperative (logistics contribution; December 31, 2009). At the same time, there are a large number of private collection point operators who usually focus specifically on collecting beverage cans. The Igora-Genossenschaft provides these collectors with can presses so that the groupage is compressed as much as possible on site. For every 1 kilo of cans collected, the collectors receive compensation of CHF 1.30 (December 31, 2009).
Recycling (groupage, recycling route, ecological balance)
In Switzerland there are two complementary collection systems: Municipalities offer municipal collection points for household aluminum. The groupage consists of aluminum cans, pet food trays, food tubes, aluminum yoghurt lids, used aluminum foil, packaging material with the aluminum logo, etc. Composite materials cannot be recycled. With aluminum foil and other aluminum packaging, the trick with the kink helps to differentiate between pure aluminum and composite materials. Crumpled aluminum foil or aluminum packaging will not open again. If the creases remain in the film, it can be sent to aluminum recycling.
In Switzerland, aluminum is usually collected together with sheet steel in a collection container at municipal collecting points. The two materials can easily be separated for recycling using a magnet. At the same time, there is a collection network of private collectors who generally limit themselves to collecting aluminum cans. (See also financing). The aluminum groupage is melted in smelting works near the border (southern Germany, northern Italy) and poured into aluminum bars. This secondary aluminum can be reused by the aluminum industry for various applications without any loss of quality. Recycling aluminum cans can save around 95 percent of the energy that would be used to manufacture new aluminum from bauxite. The material aluminum can be reused as often as required and without any loss of quality. Every kilo of aluminum collected and recycled saves 9 kg of CO 2 compared to primary aluminum made from bauxite.
Awareness raising / public relations
The recycling rate for aluminum cans in Switzerland is 91%, pet food trays 80%, food tubes 60% (December 31, 2009). To maintain the high recycling rates, the Igora cooperative relies on increased communication, especially in the campaign area. The Igora cooperative is heavily involved in the activities of the Igsu (Clean Environment Association Switzerland), which deals with the prevention of littering in Switzerland.
Financing (VRB)
Since July 1, 2008, the sales price of every aluminum can in Switzerland has included an early recycling fee of 1 centime (VRB). Each 1 centime early recycling fee will also be charged on aluminum trays for pet food and food tubes. The Igora cooperative also receives additional contributions from the aluminum industry and can thus fulfill its tasks relating to the collection and recycling of aluminum. The largest items in the Igora cooperative's expenditure are the costs for communication and remuneration for collectors. The Swiss aluminum collectors receive an average of 2.7 million francs per year.