The protocol means that when a tonne of certain grades of aluminium scrap is recycled, it is accepted by all parties that a per centage consists of aluminium packaging, usually drinks cans. While agreement has been reached, a formal signing is still awaited because the Environment Agency is waiting for SEPA to sign the protocol off which should take place in the next couple of weeks.
SEPA is happy with the protocol and Karen Riddick, who heads SEPA’s producer responsibility unit, told lestrecycle.com: “The protocol has been agreed it just needs to be signed as a formality.”
Chris Grove, Midlands regional co-ordinator for the Environment Agency, said: “All the work has been done and representatives of the Agency are happy with the percentages. The Agency has told accredited reprocessors the figures and we aren’t disputing them.”
The protocol has been established after a 12-month consultation period and has resulted from detailed sampling of four grades of aluminium scrap: old rolled, mixed aluminium alloy cuttings, new pure aluminium and new scrap of one aluminium alloy.
The Agency verified and observed the sampling process which took place at four sites over a few months. The percentages were derived from detailed sampling of which 90% was done by hand sorting. The process was based on the same weighted averages which were used for the steel protocol.
The protocol assumes that a percentage of aluminium scrap will be made up of aluminium cans. So that from January 1, 2001, accredited aluminium reprocessors can issue PRNs against the following percentages of scraps recycled:
Aluminium scrap category % packaging
Old rolled 13.6
Mixed aluminium alloy cuttings 9.3
New pure aluminium 6.2
New scrap of one aluminium alloy 9.0
Mr Grove added: “We want more PRNs in the aluminium market and so if the reprocessors can justify the quantities of aluminium they have dealt with and have records then we can issue PRNs for all tonnage since January.”
Alex Griffin, Alupro's operations director, said: “We are delighted that this lengthy and complex process will result in well-validated recycling rates from this year. Our results for 2000, including the new protocol methodology to calculate recycling activity outside of the existing main routes, indicate an overall recovery rate for aluminium packaging of 34%, with drinks cans at 42% and foil at 16%. This is an excellent result for collection of packaging almost exclusively from the domestic waste stream.”
Register for free to comment