The Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), has reported that aluminium drink can recycling in the UK reached a ‘milestone’ 70% recycling rate in 2016.
According to the organisation data taken from the Environment Agency’s National Packaging Waste Database suggests that the equivalent of seven out of ten aluminium drink cans sold in the UK during the year were recycled.
Alupro has reported that the UK achieved a 70% recycling rate for aluminium cans in 2014
The organisation has claimed that the 70% milestone makes a “major contribution to the European metal packaging sector’s ambition to reach and exceed an average of 80% metal packaging recycling rate by 2020.”
Alupro notes that beverage cans make up the largest proportion of the 180,000 tonnes of aluminium packaging placed on the market during the year.
‘Milestone’
Commenting on the recycling rate performance, Rick Hindley, Alupro executive director said: “We are obviously very pleased that aluminium packaging recycling rates continue to increase year on year and it’s particularly nice to reach a new 70% ‘milestone’ for beverage cans.
“The continued growth is due to the support of our members and partners in the wider industry and their commitment to invest in and support our programmes to drive positive, lasting behaviour change among consumers.”
However, the organisation has repeated its claim that future recycling performance will be “compromised by a lack of ambition” in setting new targets for aluminium packaging recycling – with a goal to recycle 64% of aluminium packaging by the end of the decade agreed earlier this year.
According to Alupro, in 2014 the UK recycling rate for aluminium packaging was 48% and the recycling rate for aluminium drinks cans was 65%. The organisation has claimed that more stretching targets would drive investment in aluminum can recycling.
Growth
“We are obviously very pleased that aluminium packaging recycling rates continue to increase year on year and it’s particularly nice to reach a new 70% ‘milestone’ for beverage cans.”
Rick Hindley
Alupro
Alupro said: “We remain convinced that future growth in aluminium recycling performance is achievable within the current system, subject to a few revisions which will ensure all recycling is accurately reported and that behaviour change programmes are properly funded on a fair and equitable basis.
“Alupro believes that communication is the missing link between the collection infrastructure and recycling growth, as has been proved over and again by industry-funded programmes like MetalMatters and Every Can Counts.
“Our focus remains to make people aware of the aluminium in the packaging they use every day and how to recycle it so that the metal can be given a new life, over and over again.”
Alupro works with local authorities, the waste management industry and the wider metal packaging sector to develop and stimulate the UK’s aluminium packaging collection infrastructure. The organisation also manages and runs information and education campaigns – including the MetalMatters initiative – to encourage people to recycle more.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Metal
