Brazil remains the leader in recycling metal containers, reclaiming 87 percent of all beer and soft drink cans used in 2002, reports the Brazilian Aluminum Association. The recyclable waste collection sector provides income for 150,000 people. In 2001, Brazil had already achieved 85 percent recycling, a big improvement over the 78 percent recorded in 2000. Brazil beat Japan by two percentage points.

More than environmental awareness, it is poverty and unemployment that drive this Brazilian phenomenon, say experts. The average income of waste collectors is the equivalent of two official monthly salaries (155 dollars), more than other unskilled workers make.

In 2002, more than 121,000 tons, or nine billion cans, were recycled, saving nearly 1,700 gigawatt hours of electricity and 600,000 tons of bauxite, the raw material for manufacturing aluminum.