Aluminium packaging recycling organization Alupro appeals for sustained focus on residual recycling

Alupro has restated the significance of kerbside recycling following the launch of energy from waste (EfW) recovery report.

Rick Hindley, executive director at Alupro said: “It’s essential that kerbside recycling rates continue to increase and that we prioritise the use of aluminium as a sustainable packaging material. As aluminium recovered from IBA contributes to a circular economy, we fully advocate the process and see it as an essential part of our national vision to achieve a 100% aluminium packaging recycling rate.”

A few days back, cross-party think tank Policy Connect released a hard-hitting research report calling for the UK government to commit to energy from waste (EfW) recovery, as opposed to landfill disposal, for the management of the nation’s residual waste.

Hindley said: “Prioritising recycling, reducing waste, improving education and investing in effective collection infrastructure is imperative to meet ambitious 2035 targets and transition towards a resource-efficient circular economy.”

“However, it’s important to consider the UK’s non-recyclable residual waste fraction and how best we harness its value. Looking towards energy recovery technologies, rather than landfill, provides the benefit of low-carbon heat generation and thus offsets our reliance on fossil fuels.”

“Also, unlike most packaging materials, the small amount of aluminium that escapes kerbside recycling and enters into the EfW value chain can be recovered with no loss of quality. Melted and re-solidified shapes are recovered through the treatment of Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) and, once separated, graded and cleaned, can be used in a variety of high-value applications – such as to form die-casting ingots for the automotive industry.”