Incinerated aluminium should count in targets

It is essential that the UK counts aluminium recovered from incinerator bottom ash towards packaging recycling targets if it is to meet future obligations, according to Rick Hindley, executive director of Alupro.

And, the government must update the packaging waste recovery note (PRN) system in order to make sure all material that is recycled is also counted towards the targets, not just that handled by accredited reprocessors.

The comments came at the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisations (Alupros) Seminar 2012, which took place at the National Motorcycle Museum near Birmingham yesterday (October 30). At the event, Mr Hindley also raised concerns about the impact the ban on cash paid for scrap metals, which is set to be introduced in December, could have on the cash for can schemes.

Speaking at the seminar, Mr Hindley said that aluminium was on target to meet its 2012 packaging recycling target. However the target will increase by 3% every year between 2013 and 2017 meaning a further 19,000 tonnes of aluminium needs to be recycled if the 2017 obligation is to be met.

Mr Hindley raised concerns that under current system not all of the material that is recycled is counted towards the target.

Targets

One area where Mr Hindley thought additional tonnage could be found was in the recovery of aluminium, and other metals, from incinerator bottom ash and mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plants. At present, the material is recycled, but unlike other European countries, it is not counted towards the target. Mr Hindley said changing this was essential for meeting future obligations.

He said: We estimate that to reach the new targets a further 19,000 tonnes of aluminium packaging will need to be recovered. Our business plan shows that the majority of this material will have to come from improving capture rates from kerbside collections and by officially recognising the aluminium that is recovered from incinerator bottom ash.

To achieve this we are working on establishing a new protocol to formally account for the aluminium packaging that is already being recovered, and will continue to be recovered, as new waste treatment plants come on stream. It is essential that we are able to officially account material towards the targets, as they do in every other country in Europe.

He explained that the protocol could see several thousand tonnes of material added to the recycling performance for aluminium.

PRNs

In addition, Mr Hindley raised concerns about the packaging recovery note (PRN) system following the publication of the third quarter figures last month, which showed that some materials were at risk of not fulfilling their obligations (see letsrecycle.com story). Mr Hindley said the PRN system did not allow for all packaging that is recycled to be counted towards the targets.

We are not convinced that the PRN system is counting all of the packaging that is currently recycled. There are a number of reasons – firstly it needs to be updated, it’s the same as it was when it was launched 20 years ago. The other issue is there is no obligation on reprocessors and exporters to be accredited. There is material that is collected that is not reported. When PRNs are a low value like they are for aluminium at the minute there is no incentive to become accredited.

The data needs to be collected and we think it could be added as a requirement under the permitting system so there is a legal requirement to report the data.

Cash for cans

He also raised concerns about the impact the ban on cash paid for scrap metal could have on recycling rates, as well as community and charitable projects. Cash for cans schemes are used by many charitable organisations and community groups who trade aluminium cans for money at registered sites across the UK.

The ban, which will be introduced on December 3 2012, will see the government abolish cash payments for the purchase of scrap metal, in a bid to stamp out metal theft (see letsrecycle.com story). Alupro has previously raised concerns about the ban (see letsrecycle.com story) and Mr Hindley reiterated these at the event.

He said: The government is bringing in a ban on cash paid for scrap metal. It makes sense and will help combat material theft but we have lobbied hard against this to make an exemption for aluminium cans. This is because cash for cans is a huge incentive and this will no longer be possible under the scheme as they won’t be able to pay cash for the material.

We are concerned the effect this could have on hard-core collection systems. We are also getting concerns from cash for cans schemes as they say they could lose a number of customers. We believe this system collects three to four thousand tonnes of material which goes towards our targets. It could potentially change a key part of the strategy.