KNOXVILLE, TN - Alcoa Rigid Packaging, one of Alcoa's largest business units, announced today the selection of 16 companies to receive Alcoa UBC Supplier Quality Awards for shipments of outstanding quality used beverage containers (UBCs) in 2002. Suppliers are nominated by Alcoa Recycling Company and Anheuser-Busch Recycling.

The winners include:
· Abitibi Consolidated - Phoenix Recycling Division, Chandler, AZ
· Alter Trading, Davenport, IA
· Belleville Recycling, Belleville, IL
· Can Pac Recycling, Omaha, NE
· Cash A Can, Council Bluffs, IA
· Consolidated Recycling Corporation, Worcester, MA
· Cooper Recycling, Livingston, TN
· J.T. Knight, Inc., Columbus, GA
· L. Knife and Son, Inc., Kingston, MA
· Material Recycling, Inc., Evansville, IN
· Mid America Recycling, Des Moines, IA
· Morristown Iron and Metals, Inc., Morristown, TN
· Pepsi of Olean, Olean, NY
· Quality Beverage, Taunton, MA
· T & T Recycling, Hurst, IL
· Union Beer Distributor, Inc., Brooklyn, NY

Demonstrating a true dedication to outstanding UBC quality are six repeat winners. They are: Abitibi Consolidated, Consolidated Recycling Corporation, L. Knife & Son, Morristown Iron and Metals, Mid America Recycling and Quality Beverage. In fact, L. Knife and Abitibi Consolidated are four-time winners.

Created in 1997, the Alcoa UBC Supplier Quality Awards spotlight the importance of high quality UBCs in the remelting process and in eliminating potential hazards for employees.

According to Bryan Steverson, chairman of the Alcoa Rigid Packaging UBC quality committee, consistency is key. "These firms treat every load of UBCs as their most important load. They are dedicated to providing clean, dry UBCs that are virtually free of moisture, dirt, glass, plastic and other materials," he said. "They serve as a standard for the nearly 2,000 companies who ship UBCs to Alcoa, and we applaud their hard work and focus," Steverson said.

The elimination of contaminants from UBC shipments has a direct impact on the quality and cost of recycled aluminum cans as well as the safety of employees involved in the recycling process.

Alcoa Rigid Packaging produces aluminum sheet for the beverage and food can industries and leads Alcoa's aluminum can recycling activities. Alcoa is one of the nation's largest consumers of UBCs.

Alcoa Inc.

Alcoa Inc.

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap® foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa® wheels, and Baco® household wraps. Among its other businesses are closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 129,000 employees in 44 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com

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