Figures validated yesterday (May 17) by the Environment Agency showed that 51,642 tonnes of steel packaging was reprocessed domestically in the first three months of 2010, compared to just 17,867 tonnes in the same period in 2009.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Corus Steel Packaging Recycling (CSPR) commercial manager, Garvin Freeman said: “The increase in steel tonnage in Q1 is obviously as a result of us being more involved.”
Describing the figures as “excellent”, Mr Freeman noted that they suggested that there was “more economic activity”, leading to an increase in demand for steel production. Steel packaging collected for Corus is being sent to the company's works in Port Talbot, Rotherham and Scunthorpe.
The gradual increase in both the tonnage of steel packaging being dealt with in total, and domestically in particular, comes as Corus continues its re-entry into the market for steel packaging scrap (see letsrecycle.com story), after a worldwide slump in steel production led to it revealing in December 2008 that it was not taking in any more material (see letsrecycle.com story).
While, for commercial reasons, Mr Freeman was unable to reveal the exact quantities of packaging Corus was taking in, he said: “We're fully committed to packaging recycling in the UK”.
“We're buying packaging recycling scrap from various companies in the UK in large volumes,” he added.
A slump in steel packaging being handled by producers last year was made clear by yesterday's publication of the 2010 obligations for packaging producers, with the obligation for steel – which is based on the amount of material handled last year – falling, despite the overall packaging recycling target increasing (see letsrecycle.com story).
Last year, Corus unveiled two Corus Approved Steel Packaging Recycling centres – in Pontypool and Workington – to bulk up steel cans delivered by councils, waste management companies and other collectors (see letsrecycle.com story), replacing the previous network of 14 CanRoute centres run by metals recyclers nationwide.
But, Mr Freeman noted that the company was currently dealing with several metal recycling companies, and noted that: “The CASPR centres are only one or two of many major scrap dealers we're dealing with.”
He explained that Corus has “less involvement in the supply chain of collecting domestic packaging scrap”, adding that “our focus is providing a secure end market”.
However, he stressed that, in terms of the company's relationship with local authorities, there were major similarities between how the new system and the CanRoute system worked, with scrap merchants taking the material from customers such as councils, checking it for quality and baling it up.
And, he claimed that the company was still gaining new customers, explaining that: “I think people still want to work with Corus.”
Communications
Mr Freeman also emphasised the role that Corus was playing in terms of supporting communications campaigns, such as the Alupro-run 'Aerofoil' and 'Every Can Counts' initiatives, and local initiatives to increase participation.
“We're practically looking to get involved in schemes to increase participation in kerbside recycling schemes,” he said.
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