The Alloy Recovery Program (ARP) continues to generate revenue and profit with the volume of coins recovered through the Mint’s recycling program. During the 13 weeks ended September 29, 2012, the Mint recovered and sold 464 metric tonnes of nickel and 76 metric tonnes of cupronickel compared to 144 metric tonnes of nickel and 57 metric tonnes of cupronickel in the same period in 2011. Revenue for the quarter was $10.3 million compared to $5.2 million in the same period in 2011. The increase in tonnage recovered was driven primarily by the launch of a program to recover the first generation one-dollar and two-dollar coins as they are replaced with the new coins, a process that could take two to three years. The variance in revenue reflects the increase in volume offset by significantly reduced base metal prices.
Source: Third Quarter Report Fiscal 2012 (1.16 MB PDF) Page 4.
http://www.mint.ca/store/dyn/PDFs/RCM%20Q3-2012%20QFR%20FS%20-%20ENGLISH%20Revised%20on%20December%2013.pdf