The Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging (APEAL) has published its annual recycling figures for steel packaging in Europe, for the year 2003. It said that 61% of steel packaging is being recycled – 2.1 million tonnes of material – up 1.3% on last year's results.
But the UK is still finding it tough to increase its steel packaging waste recycling, with local authorities prioritising collections of denser materials like paper and green waste. The APEAL figures put the UK on a rate of 44.5%, some distance behind Belgium (94%), the Netherlands (82%), Germany (80%) and Austria (79%).
In a statement on the new results, APEAL environmental and technical affairs manager Jean-Pierre Taverne said that further recycling growth is forecast, with a 70% recycling rate expected for the 15 original members of the European Union by 2008 and an average annual growth of 3.4%.
Mr Taverne said that this prediction was based on two factors, that the Landfill Directive would progressively direct steel cans to be recycled, and that the new joint target for steel and aluminium under the Packaging Directive would boost collection schemes in the EU.
New Member States
In the European Union's 10 new Member States, APEAL said that steel packaging recycling is “about to take off”. Mr Taverne said: “Although the collection and recycling of packaging in most of the 10 new EU Member States is still in its infancy, APEAL is confident that steel packaging recycling will take off in years to come.”
The recycling of industrial packaging waste – such as steel drums – is already averaging an 80% rate, he said, while household recycling of steel cans is improving through the uptake of “Green Dot” schemes in the new Member States, he said.
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