UK aluminium can recycling rate jumps to 55pct

The UK's aluminium can recycling rate increased from 51% in 2008 to 55% last year but more needs to be done to increase the rate further in light of potentially tougher packaging recycling targets in the future, according to the aluminium packaging recycling trade body Alupro.

The figure was unveiled by Mr Rick Hindley CEO of Alupro at the organization's 2010 conference, held at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire on July 1st 2010 where attendees also received an update on the organization's communications work, foil and aerosols campaign and efforts to encourage the recovery aluminium packaging from mixed residual waste.

And, Mr Ian Atkinson from Defra's producer responsibility unit also provided the latest information on the department's consultation on proposed packaging targets for 2011 to 2020, revealing that, while the consultation had closed with 96 responses received, those were yet to be analyzed and the department had not had an indication of any ministerial views on the process.

Mr Hindley hailed the 55% recycling rate as a major achievement. And, with the aluminium packaging recycling body marking 21 years this year, he also highlighted the increase in the overall aluminium packaging recycling rate from less than 2% in 1989 to 41.8% in 2009.

He said that aluminium packaging recycling has come a long way in the last 21 years and also claimed that, since 1989, the aluminium industry had invested more than EUR 50 million to encourage collection of the material and improve recycling rates.

He also stressed that there were several areas where the sector needed to focus to achieve more progress, including

1. The target proposed by Defra for 70% of aluminium packaging to be recycled by 2020. We have to recognize we work in a system that isn't perfectly suited to our needs, so we have set ourselves 65% target by 2020

2. The barriers presented by local authorities being driven by weight-based, bio waste focused targets

3. Value from the sale of cans often doesn't flow to councils

4. Differences between kerbside systems

5. Infrastructure is not delivering the away from home infrastructure is just starting

As a result, Mr Hindley pointed in particular towards a future focus on both recovering more material away from home and extracting it from mixed municipal waste.

（Source from Letsrecycle.com）