Novelis expands can aggregation centre network

West Midlands-based recycling company Mason Metals has begun operating as an aggregation centre for aluminium can recycling giant, Novelis Recycling.

The move means that waste management companies, local authorities and secondary metal dealers who collect Used Beverage Cans （UBCs） in the area will not have to travel too far to sell them. Novelis currently has seven other aggregation centres around the UK but none in the Midlands until now.Mason Metals, which celebrates 50 years in business this year, has branches in Dudley and Halesowen with the main recycling centre operating at the Halesowen premises. It specialises in non-ferrous metal recycling.

The company accepts can loads of over 250kg, which can be delivered either baled or loose. The cans are checked to ensure they meet the Novelis specification and baled if necessary.

It then transports the cans on to the Novelis plant in Warrington for reprocessing into ingots of recycled metal which are then rolled into the sheet used by customers in the beverage can manufacturing industry.

Novelis claims that the recycling process saves 95% of the energy and 97% of the associated greenhouse gas emissions compared to manufacturing aluminium from its raw materials.

Network

Novelis Recycling established its regional aggregation centre network to improve operational efficiencies for its suppliers, and make the business of aluminium can recycling easier and more attractive. This year has seen an expansion in the network from six centres to eight centres.

Alongside the Midlands site, the company has also recently established an aggregation centre in South Wales. Other centres include those in Scotland, Manchester, the North East, East, South East and South West England.

Novelis Recycling commercial manager, Keith Guest, said: "Used drink cans represent only a small fraction of the waste stream, and many of our suppliers are small businesses or community enterprises who would not find can recycling viable if they had to store material until they had a sufficient quantity to deliver to us in Warrington.

"Having a regional point that accepts smaller loads and can handle loose material has helped many recycling schemes become sustainable enterprises. There is also an additional benefit for the environment - having regional delivery points means that we are reducing transport miles and associated vehicle emissions.

"Our regional aggregation centres have been instrumental in the growth of aluminium can recycling in the UK and we are delighted to have been able to open two new centres this year - this one in the Midlands and a further centre in South Wales."

Andrew Jones, director of Mason Metals, said that becoming part of the Novelis Recycling network represented a "great opportunity" for his company.

He said: "Recycling is now part of our everyday lives and, as part of the collection infrastructure, we have the opportunity to contribute towards the success of local authorities, other businesses and the UK economy, as we all strive to achieve recycling targets set by government."