Addressing guests at a dinner at London’s Haberdashers’ Hall, Rick Hindley, executive director for Alupro, first reflected on past achievements.
This included the 1989 BBC Blue Peter ‘Baby life appeal’, which he said: “provided a money can’t buy launch for the aluminium industry’s recycling programmes in the UK. The amazing power of the UK’s most popular children’s TV programme galvanised the support of millions of children and their families across the UK, who quickly understood the value of 100% recyclable aluminium drinks cans.”
The industry’s campaign work, he noted, was “underpinned by Alcan’s brave investment in Europe’s first can to can recycling plant in Warrington. 25 years on, the company, now known as Novelis is about to open the world’s largest aluminium drinks can recycling plant in Germany – with capacity to recycle a staggering 400,000 tonnes each year.”
Guests heard that the sector in the UK has now reached a recycling rate for aluminium packaging of more than 43% with nearly 6 out of 10 aluminium beverage cans – 57% – collected for recycling.
Future
Looking ahead, Mr Hindley said that the sector “has always regarded used aluminium packaging as a valuable secondary raw material, with recycling being at the heart of aluminium production.”
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But, looking ahead, he expressed concerns about draft EU recycling targets for 2030. “We will continue to support the setting of ambitious and realistic targets. However, whilst supporting the ambition we believe that the proposed targets are unrealistic and probably unachievable. Whatever the outcome of the current consultation process, there is no doubt that the new targets, once implement will be challenging. Rest assured, we are ready to step up to that challenge and continue to innovate and punch beyond our weight to ensure that recycling rates are maximised.”
Guests at the dinner from across the recycling sector and the aluminium industry. Alupro’s current programmes include MetalMatters, Every Can Counts and the ‘Leave your cap on’ Caps & Closures initiative.
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