Aluminium recyclers are anticipating a surge in the amount of foil trays and wraps set to be received following the Christmas period, but it is still unclear if the bulk of material is recycled.
It is estimated that as much as 4,500 tonnes of aluminium foil is used every Christmas, in items such as single use cooking trays, mince pie casings and turkeys wrappings.
Piles of foil trays could be seen in retailers across the UK, in the build up to the Christmas period. Shoppers entering shops such as Argos in West London as well as supermarkets such as Sainsburys were presented with huge stacks of trays for sale.
But, according to environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth, as little as 12% of the material is recycled in the UK, and the group has urged the public to avoid using the material altogether.
No recycling figures for foil are available on the aluminium recycling organisation Alupro’s website although figures for cans are given.
However, further details on aluminium foil recycling, including information on local authority collections is expected to be made available by Alupro shortly.
According to one Midlands-based non-ferrous scrap merchant, post consumer aluminium foil can be problematic as it is low value, can often be of poor quality, and there is little demand for the material in the UK.
He said: The quality of the post consumer material we usually get is terrible and the material has such a low value and it is very light, so can be difficult to move on.
Reduction
And, speaking to letsrecycle.com waste minimisation expert Alan McInnes, vice chairman of the South Wessex Waste Minimisation Group, questioned the need for single use food trays and called on packaging producers to do more to reduce their burden on the environment.
He said: It is a complete waste when you can have a glass or metal tray that has between five and ten years life. For many people it is convenience that leads them to buy these goods, but almost everyone has the equipment they would need not to have to use these in their home.
The companies which produce these definitely need to do more to encourage recycling.
Most aluminium packaging producers in the UK are members of Alupro, which invests in programmes such as Aerofoil and Metalmatters to encourage more local authority collections of aluminium foil.
Aluminium scrap reprocessor Alutrade is one of the UK facilities which currently processes post consumer aluminium foil. Alutrade shreds the material to remove contamination, where it is then smelted and rolled back into new foil.
Recycling
Shaun Ford, the companys commercial manager explained that during the early months of the year there is a noticeable increase in the amount of foil available as a result of increased consumption during the festive period.
He said: You always see an increase in foil and cans at this time of year, but the material is normally similar quality as it is throughout the rest of the year. Ultimately it is down to the individual who has put it in the recycling bin to what state you find it in.
We handle between 20 and 50 tonnes a month on average, and in January and February there is usually as much as 50 tonnes available. Most traders will wait until they collect two or three tonnes before they then pass it onto us, often it is at the back of the truck which has brought in aluminium cans.
But, while demand for aluminium foil remains low, it is often found mixed in with other types of aluminium scrap, including cans.
Cans
Keith Guest, leader, UK scrap procurement, for aluminium can recycler Novelis explained that this is an easy way for waste management companies to dispose of the material, but said that this contamination does not affect can recycling.
He added: You wont start seeing an increase in the amount of aluminium foil received until later on in January. In previous years we have got an increase in the amount of foil received, but it is a small amount compared to the amount of cans received, and as it is much lighter weight, although it is a different alloy it can be smelted alongside cans.
The European Aluminium Foil Association estimates that recycling rates for aluminium trays and semi-rigid containers in Europe rose above 50% in 2012, but concedes that recycling rates vary considerably from country to country. It is currently not known how much the UK has contributed to this rate.
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