ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWS NO. 650 AUGUST 2015
UBC recycling rate comes to 87.4% in FY2014
The Aluminum Can Recycling Association (Chairman Mr. Masahiro Goto, Presidentof Showa Aluminum Can Corp.) recently revealed some results on used aluminum
beverage can recycling in fiscal 2014, started in April 2014 and ended in March 2015.
According to the announcement,(1) consumption of aluminum beverage can
312,9540ton(20.16billion can)(2) recycled aluminum beverage can273,491ton(17.53billion can)(3) recycling rate (recycled weight / consumed weight)
87.4%(4) can to can rate (consumption for sheet / recycled weight)
63.4%
The comparison with a year earlier,,
consumed weight+3.0%
recycled weight+7.5%
recycling rate
+3.6%
can to can rate
- 5.0%
The association pointed that the recycling rate recovered to 87.4%, however a56,841ton of UBC was exported to Korea in calendar year 2014, which volume would
push up the recycling rate by 8 ~ 10% .
In March, April and May, a 9,600ton of UBC was exported, and this is counted for
22.6% of all aluminum scrap export in these three months.
The chart on page one shows the progress during past 10 years. The upper line isrecycling rate, and the below line shows can to can rate. The light is the consumptionof UBC and the dark shows recycled volume.
Our summer holidays
We are pleased to notify our coming summer holidays as follows.
9 Sunday August ~ 16 Sunday August
The 52nd Asuka Seminar is held on 9 and 10 October
It was recently announced that the 52nd Asuka Seminar is going to be held at theKira Kanko Hotel in Kira Waikiki Beach, Mikawa Bay National Park on 9 and 10October.
In 1964, the first Asuka Seminar was held, and since then it was constantly held in
every autumn without intermission. The instructors have been elected from various
fields as specialists, and so many attendants await this traditional and informativeprogram.
In the afternoon of first day, a fruitful seminar will be held, and in the evening a
grand party in traditional Japanese fashion will be held to interchange business views
each other among all attendants.
The second day, a golf competition is arranged at the Kira Country Club in themorning for golf devotees. Since it has been one of the most generous and traditional
annual events of Asuka, the various arrangements are going on powerfully.
The photo on page two is the Kira Kanko Hotel.

Aluminum cast and diecast production shrinks in May
The Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry recently revealed the production ofaluminum cast and diecast in May. According to the announcement, the production ofaluminum cast decreased 7.3% from a year earlier to 30,459ton, and that of diecast
also declined 8.4% from a year earlier to 70,648ton.
The decrease of aluminum cast production was the first in past three months. Thedull production of automobile and general machine pushed down the demand, and at
the same time, the market for public investment shrunk in May.
On the one hand, the production of aluminum diecast decreased successive fivemonths. The main demand, production of automobile, has been sluggish since January
this year.
In the chart on page two, from left May, April and comparison with a year ago.
From top, aluminum cast totaled, general machine, automobile and bike, others,
diecast totaled, general machine, electric appliances, automobile, bike and others.
Minami Environmental Service Office sends an observation party
Nagoya City executes the education program for the health committee throughWard Environmental Service Offices. In April, we received the first observation party
from Chikusa Environmental service Office.
On July 2, the second party, 19 members of the health committee visited us from
Minami Ward Environmental Service Office.
At first they watched a video on used beverage can recycling at our meeting room,and observed the actual process of recycling. Again at the meeting room, an
informative meeting with questions and answers was held with Director Masanao
Okada as the photo on page three shows.
Every visitor eyewitnssed our aluminum recycling process, and realized how
important the recycling of resources is for our life.
Nagoya City proposes to send the next observation party.
Local news
On August 26 and 27, the big lantern festival is held at Suwa Shrine in Ishiki. The
legend says this very interesting festival is originated by a huge bonfire that the people
prayed to turn devil out on the seashore. So many spectators are in the shrine on thevery days as the photo on page three shows.
On August 24 ~ 29, The Hawaiian Festival is held at Kira Waikiki Beach, whereHawaiian pro dancers team come to perform their proper Hula, and at the same timesome hundreds of Japanese pro and amateur Hula dancers enjoy to perform with
Hawaiian dancers. The photo on page four is Kira Waikiki Beach.
The Japan of today
On July 30, The Ministry of Health Welfare and Labor revealed the average life
expectancy in 2014. That for women increased 0.22 years from a year ago to 86.83years,
the highest in the world. That for men increased 0.29 years year on year to 80.50
years, the third in the world. The Ministry said it will be prolonged more in the future.