Alcan is looking to build on the success of its Cash for Cans service, which takes aluminium cans from schools, community groups and charities and provides around 50 – 55% of its input of cans. As well as recycling awareness initiatives for schools and communities, 20 new recycling centres are planned for 2003, and the reprocessor is looking at transferring existing customers to these, and gaining new ones.
The reprocessor's new strategy received the green light before Michael Meacher decided to keep 2003 packaging waste recovery targets the same as 2002 (see letsrecycle.com story). But despite the falls in PRN value seen as a result of Meacher's unpopular decision, Alcan is committed to its investment programme.
“This strategy was put together before the targets were announced for 2003,” Alcan national manager Rick Hindley explained, “but we are still optimistic and are committed to protecting and growing the Cash for Cans service.”
He told letsrecycle.com: “We think our PRN revenue could well be cut by half this year, but only around 20% of this investment comes from PRNs, Alcan is investing a great deal of its own money into expanding UK recycling.”
Target
Mr Hindley said that Alcan is looking ahead to 2006 or 2007, when European targets (yet to be finalised) for metal packaging waste recovery will be around the 50% mark. Like many in the industry, Alcan believes Europe will settle on a compromise target date of 2007, but the reprocessor has focussed its strategy of getting to the target from the current 34% recycling by 2006.
“We're taking a two-pronged approach,” Mr Hindley said. “Firstly we're pushing our Cash for Cans service, promoting it with market support, education programmes for schools and community groups.
“But we're also developing and enhancing our work with local authorities, we're looking at opportunities in investing in MRFs and in treatment plants, in equipment to work with new or existing kerbside schemes, which we see as vital for reaching packaging waste targets.”
He added: “Unlike most other packaging waste materials, aluminium comes almost entirely from the domestic waste stream.”
The extra material expected from the new centres will be easily absorbed into Alcan's 28 million can recycling plant at Warrington, Cheshire, Mr Hindley said.
Register for free to comment