Responding to comments from Mr Benn that more needed to be done to recycle aluminium cans (see letsrecycle.com story), Alupro defended industry efforts, but conceded that the UK performance “needs to improve”.
Mr. Benn appears to be comparing the recycling rate for aluminium packaging with that for materials which have major trade arisings in the easier-to-access commercial and industrial sector.
Rick Hindley, Alupro
In a statement issued to letsrecycle.com, Alupro executive director Rick Hindley said the aluminium can recycling rate of 48% would compare “very favourably” with other disposable packaging types that relied “completely on consumer participation for collection”.
Collection
Unlike other materials that have higher recycling rates for packaging waste, Alupro said aluminium is not used in commercial and industrial packaging, making it harder to collect.
Mr Hindley said: “Mr. Benn appears to be comparing the recycling rate for aluminium packaging with that for materials which have major trade arisings in the easier-to-access commercial and industrial sector, and therefore achieve higher overall performance. Aluminium packaging tonnage is 99% small consumer packaging, with drinks cans representing only 61% of the total tonnage used to calculate recycling rate.
“A third of aluminium drinks cans are discarded in away-from-home locations such as the workplace, sports and leisure facilities and ‘on the move': all places which are only just beginning to receive recycling services.”
This picture was confirmed by Defra's waste strategy, which stated that in 2005, 95% of the 141,500 tonnes of aluminium packaging was to be found in the household waste stream.
Comparing the UK recycling rate for aluminium cans with other European countries, rather than the overall aluminium packaging recycling rate of 32.5% would put the UK “about mid-table”, Mr Hindley added.
However, Alupro said that current recycling rates meant that for every can recycled, one was thrown away, and therefore the “UK performance needs to improve”.
Mr Hindley said: “We have consistently argued that the UK's ‘meet minimum targets at least cost' approach to packaging waste legislation has held back the collection of our material, and although it is important for Mr. Benn to have a basic understanding of system failures – many of which continue to this day – we have our sights set firmly on the future, with imaginative programme support to boost recycling from every source sector.”
Targets
Following a consultation that closed on November 30, Defra is likely to increase packaging waste recycling targets from 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Targets for aluminium packaging waste recycling were set at 32.5% for 2008, 33% for 2009 and 33.5% for 2010. Under Defra's proposals, they would be raised to 38% for 2008, 39% for 2009 and 40% for 2010.
Defra is also seeking new recycling targets beyond 2010 for aluminium packaging waste – 41% for 2011 and 42% for 2012.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs identified aluminium as a key material to push recycling rates within its English waste strategy, published in May 2007. The strategy said even small increases in the recycling of aluminium “would yield extensive greenhouse gas benefits”.
Each tonne of aluminium recycled saves 11 tonnes of carbon dioxide, it said.
Alupro was pleased that aluminium was identified as a key material for recycling within Defra's Waste Strategy.
Mr Hindley said Alupro was now looking forward to meeting with Mr Benn “so we can lend our support and knowledge to Government plans for tackling the waste management and carbon agendas”.
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