European UBC Recycling Rate Hits 64 Percent

The European Aluminium Association (EAA) has reported the overall recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans (UBCs) in the EU, including EFTA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) and Turkey increased by 1.2 percent in 2009, bringing the total recycling rate for the year to 64.3 percent for the year.

The EAA adds that the consumption of aluminum beverage cans throughout European remained at 34 billion units, while a total of 21.4 billion UBCs were collected for recycling.

The EAA says most Nordic European countries have well-balanced deposit systems in place that generate recycling rates of around 90 percent. Meanwhile, countries such as Belgium with well-managed pre-sorted packaging collection schemes also report strong recycling levels.

However, the EAA report notes that some of these programs need further improvement and should focus on a better sorting quality and include the collection of UBCs away from home.

The EAA adds local programs such as the U.K. Every Can Counts initiative can help and are being replicated in other countries. France and Austria have developed similar programs. The main purpose of these programs is to stimulate consumers to deposit their cans in designated recycling bins.

Based on the overall positive recycling trend over the past 20 years the aluminum industry, together with the can manufacturers, are aiming at an average European recycling rate of 75 percent for all beverage cans by 2015.

More information can be found at http://www.eaa.net/files/eaa/documents/67/846/846_Press%20Release%20Alu%20bevcans%20recycling%202009(final26July2011)_ANNEX.pdf.