Foil and aerosols targeted in new Alupro campaign

The campaign, which is being run by the aluminium packaging recycling organisation Alupro, will look to encourage councils to begin offering collections of the two materials and will also aim to support new schemes with local communications campaigns.

Research carried out to accompany the launch of the campaign has revealed that 67% of councils currently collect empty aerosols alongside mixed cans in their kerbside systems, while 60% collect clean aluminium foil either at the kerbside or via bring systems.

And, a spokeswoman for Alupro told letsrecycle.com that, while there were no “precise” targets for the campaign in terms of getting a certain number of councils onboard or increasing tonnages, the “first target” for the campaign would be the 90 local authorities which did not currently collect either material.

The initiative is being co-funded by Unilever, the British Aerosol Manufacturer's Association and foil companies Coppice Alupack, Nicholl Food Packaging and Jena,

Initial phase

In its initial phase, Alupro aim to talk to local authorities and waste management companies about the reprocessing opportunities available for mixed cans, aerosols and foil as well as the “higher value” routes for cans with aerosols and separate clean foil.

The spokeswoman explained that this would involve providing councils with details of reprocessors for the materials, and she stressed that “we'll be talking to local authorities on a very personal basis”.

To support its case, Alupro has cited consumer research undertaken last month showing that only 39% of householders think they can recycle aerosols and that 84% of those not recycling them say they would do if the facilities for recycling were available in their area.

Similarly, while only 59% thought they could recycle clean foil, 85% said they would recycle the material if they could.

Alupro executive director, Rick Hindley, said: “It is clear from the consumer research that householders want to recycle both empty aerosols and clean foil, and it has never been easier for local authorities and waste management companies to handle the material effectively.”

There are currently 29,500 tonnes of steel and aluminium aerosols used in the UK each year, of which over three-quarters are steel, while 26,000 tonnes of plain foil are used for packaging, wrapping foil and foil platters every year.

Communications

The spokeswoman for Alupro explained that, while the details of the local communications campaigns were yet to be finalised, proposals were set to come through the campaign's steering group.

She added that they would have a particular role to play in the period when the councils were adding the materials to their existing collections and were yet to get their own communications up-and-running.

The campaign is also set to involve a national consumer campaign, to be launched by Unilever next year.

Messages

Alupro has stressed that key messages in their communications will include making sure only empty aerosols with their lids removed are left for recycling, while in relation to aluminium foil, householders will be told to make sure there is no food on the foil.

The spokeswoman claimed that, as well as creating a “hygiene issue” for those creating the foil, contamination would also have a detrimental affect on how the foil burnt during the reprocessing process.