UK aluminum can recycling rate hits 75 percent

The United Kingdom aluminum drink can recycling rate has increased to 75 percent, its highest level, up from 54 percent in 2010, according to a news release from the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), Redditch, England. Additionally, 95 percent of aluminum packaging collected in the U.K. is recycled within Europe rather than being exported around the globe. 

Alupro reports that the overall aluminum packaging rate has continued to rise steadily from 41 percent in 2010 to 52 percent in 2018, meaning that more than 100,000 metric tons of aluminum packaging sold in the U.K. were recycled last year. These improvements in U.K. aluminum recycling rates can be attributed to investments made by the aluminum sector as a whole to ensure that the packaging they produce is recycled, Alupro reports in the news release.

Programs managed by the Alupro such as MetalMatters and Every Can Counts are positively impacting the behavior of people across the U.K. by creating awareness of the recyclability of aluminum and metal packaging.

“Aluminium is the perfect example of the circular economy because it can be recycled forever,” says Rick Hindley, executive director of Alupro. “We know that British consumers want to do their part, so we’re delighted that more cans are being recycled than ever before. Within 60 days the can you recycle could be back on the shelves as another can.”

The U.K. government is currently consulting on reform to the producer responsibility system, which could lead to more accurate reporting of recycling rates, Alupro reports. A significant volume of used aluminum packaging is being recycled from refuse-derived fuel (RDF) outside of the U.K. but not currently being officially recorded toward U.K. recycling targets. This indicates that the latest rates are still underreported, and future recycling rates for aluminum packaging could be even higher under these reforms. 

Alupro is a nonprofit, industry-funded organization with 30 years of experience representing the U.K.’s aluminum packaging industry. The association aims to meet the recycling targets for aluminum packaging by working with local authorities, waste management industry professionals and the metal packaging sector to develop the U.K.’s collection infrastructure.