A study was performed into relations between physical properties of aluminum packaging waste and the
corresponding aluminum scraps in bottom ash from three typical incineration processes. First, Dutch
municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash was analyzed for the identifiable beverage can
alloy scraps in the +2 mm size ranges using chemical detection and X-ray fluorescence. Second, laboratory-
scale pot furnace tests were conducted to investigate the relations between aluminum packaging
in base household waste and the corresponding metal recovery rates. The representative packaging
wastes include beverage cans, foil containers and thin foils. Third, small samples of aluminum packaging
waste were incinerated in a high-temperature oven to determine leading factors influencing metal recovery
rates. Packaging properties, combustion conditions, presence of magnesium and some specific
contaminants commonly found in household waste were investigated independently in the high-temperature
oven. In 2007, the bottom ash (+2 mm fraction) from the AEB MSWI plant was estimated to be
enriched by 0.1 wt.% of aluminum beverage cans scrap. Extrapolating from this number, the recovery
potential of all eleven MSWI plants in the Netherlands is estimated at 720 ton of aluminum cans scrap.
More than 85 wt.% of this estimate would end up in +6 mm size fractions and were amenable for efficient
recycling. The pot furnace tests showed that the average recovery rate of metallic aluminum typically
decreases from beverage cans (93 wt.%) to foil containers (85 wt.%) to thin foils (77 wt.%). The oven tests
showed that in order of decreasing impact the main factors promoting metallic aluminum losses are the
packaging type, combustion temperature, residence time and salt contamination. To a lesser degree magnesium
as alloying element, smaller packaging size and basic contaminations may also promote losses.