However, despite the UK steel packaging sector being badly hit by the slump in demand for new steel production last year – with Corus closing its doors to steel packaging scrap in late 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story), the figures show that the UK's rate still increased by 6% from the 56% achieved in 2007.
And, this contributed to the European-wide steel packaging recycling figure for last year representing a 1.4% increase from the 69% recorded for 2007.
APEAL claimed the figures meant that more than 2.5 million tonnes of food and drinks cans and other steel packaging was recycling in Europe in 2008, saving 3.9 million tonnes of CO2.
It also highlighted the fact that the 70.4% rate compared favourably with the 33% recycling rate for beverage cartons in 2008, the 62% glass recycling rate in 2007 and the 29% plastics recycling rate achieved last year.
The association's president, Guillaume de Formanoir, said: “Once again steel is setting the standard for recycling across Europe and demonstrating that by recycling we can make an important contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.”
Ranking
Despite improving its recycling rate between 2007 and 2008, the UK was not able to improve on its ranking of 21st out of the 29 European nations included in the figures (the EU's 27 member states, plus Norway and Switzerland).
However, the UK's rate of increase was greater than that achieved by France, where the rate only grew from 67% to 68%, and Italy, which remained at 70%.
And, in Ireland, the steel packaging recycling rate actually dropped from 77% in 2007 to 72% in 2008, with falls also recorded by strong performers including Hungary (from 87% to 83%) and Germany (from 91% to 89%).
The top five recycling rates for steel packaging in 2008 were (2007 rate in brackets)
Belgium – 93% (93%)
Germany – 89% (91%)
Luxembourg – 87% (69%)
The Netherlands – 87% (84%)
Hungary – 83% (87%)
Register for free to comment