Ball installed the RTO voluntarily, even though it may be years before mandatory regulations require such action. The Golden RTO installation is another example of Ball Corporation fulfilling its responsibilities to the environment and the communities in which we live and do business. Plastic packaging lasts up to 300 percent longer than wood or paper packaging and greatly reduces wood consumption. Most of Ball plants use plastic pallets. Plastic pallets were substituted for wood pallets which required replacement every two years.
Plastic pallets can last ten years and are repairable with spare parts.
Because of their durability, few pallets need to be recycled. The few that do get recycled are ground up and reused in the production of new pallets and top frames. Approximately 60 percent of new beverage cans and ends contain recycled aluminum. Steel cans contain approximately 25 percent of recycled steel on average. All scrap metal generated from Ball s can manufacturing operations is recycled.