Aluminium sector in call for PRN reform

Aluminium reprocessors have called for changes to the PRN regime, claiming it is impossible to track changing trends in aluminium recycling under the current system.

The call comes in the wake of the final packaging recycling figures for 2013, which showed that the aluminium sector had met its 43% recycling target, collecting a total of 70,788 tonnes of aluminium packaging throughout the year (see letsrecycle.com story). The target has risen to 46% for 2014.

The figures also revealed that the recycling rate for the final quarter of the year was down when compared to the previous three quarters, with 13,981 tonnes recorded in Q4 compared to an average of 18,395 tonnes in the previous three quarters, as it was clear that the target would be met.

It has been claimed that the sector is currently meeting these targets with ease and there are believed to be several thousand tonnes of aluminium packaging that are being recycled, but for which no packaging recovery notes (PRNs) are raised.

This is thought to be due to the low value of aluminium PRNs, which sat around 6 per tonne during the last quarter of the year, and is said to offer little incentive for some reprocessors to opt into the system.

The Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) which represents producers and reprocessors of aluminium packaging has expressed concern at the drop in the collection rate in Q4 and has claimed that the low Q4 PRN value has lead to a fall in the number of reprocessors choosing to become accredited in 2014.

Meanwhile the group also claims that monitoring PRN returns is among the only means of tracking overall recycling rates for aluminium, and unless all of the eligible packaging material is recorded under the system it will be difficult to track any potential changes in the amount of aluminium being collected.

Target

Alupro claims that this could be problematic when setting future strategy to respond to any target changes in the EUs Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.

Rick Hindley Alupros executive director, said: The aluminium packaging industry is delighted that it has exceeded its target for 2013 as it supports the efforts the sector is undertaking to ensure this valuable material is recovered. Last years success is a good indicator that 2014s higher target can be met, or even exceeded, which is great news for the sector, the environment and for the many campaigns and programmes Alupro runs that encourages the recycling of aluminium.

The Q4 figures, however, should be of concern, showing the PRN measurement system needs examining if it is to work in encouraging reprocessors and exporters to report their tonnage figures, especially if future and ever higher recycling targets are to be met. The system is malfunctioning as companies producing and placing packaging onto the market are legally obligated to part of the system but recyclers and exporters of packaging are not.

Novelis

Alupro has suggested that there is the potential for a mechanism to obligate recyclers to submit PRNs for all aluminium packaging waste recycled, while others have questioned whether the targets are ambitious enough to incentivise the generation of greater volumes of PRNs.

Andy Doran, senior manager of sustainability and recycling for aluminium recycler Novelis, added: It is a genuine problem as the potential for registrant to come and go as the market comes and goes exists. Novelis has heavily invested in the PRN system and it is in our interest to generate as many PRNs as we can.

In terms of the future outlook, our business is continuing to grow we have invested a lot in our Warrington plant and we want to secure what we can from the UK system, so our direction of travel is pretty clear. On targets, as a supplier of aluminium in all markets we want to see the perception of our product presented in a positive way so we want to achieve those targets but also see targets that are testing.