Aluminium recyclers welcome packaging targets

Aluminium recyclers have welcomed new tougher packaging recycling targets published by the government last week, and praised plans to reclassify composite packaging containing aluminium in line with other European countries.

On Friday, environment secretary Caroline Spelman announced the proposed targets for packaging recycling for 2013-17, with the material-specific target for aluminium set to rise by 15% to 55% in 2017 (see letsrecycle.com story).

In order to help businesses meet the targets, Defra proposed that composite packaging might no longer be counted in the overall waste figure for aluminium, meaning that the percentage of aluminium packaging that is recycled would rise.

This move has been well received within the industry. Rick Hindley, executive director of aluminium producer organisation Alupro, welcomed the proposed change of stance on composites; something he feels could benefit UK aluminium recyclers.

He said: “The proposal to follow the requirement of the EU directive to change the way composites are classified is key, and should be welcomed. It applies to things like aluminium lids on steel beverage cans and toothpaste containers where the aluminium cannot be individually sorted. The UK has been out of line with other countries in Europe, and the industry has been lobbying for this change for years.

“We predict that this will remove approximately 16,000 tonnes from the waste stream, which would have a significant impact on recycling rates. We are pleased the government is allowing us to come into line with Europe and this will allow us to measure ourselves alongside the rest of the continent, we won't be comparing apples to pears.” Investment

On the issue of targets, Mr Hindley agrees with Defra’s view that the aluminium targets it has proposed will be ‘challenging but achievable’ and hopes that they will spur further investment in the sector.

“We are committed to the fact that targets need to rise to ensure that the industry meets the rising targets from Europe, but also to capture further investment. Meeting them will be a challenge, but it is a challenge that the industry is up for.

“We believe that increased investment in the industry is starting to show real results that will only continue to happen if targets continue to increase and allow investment to rise as well”, he said.

Beverage can recycling firm Novelis also welcomed the developments, stating that the increasing targets were something the industry needed, and describing the proposed changes on composite aluminium as ‘prudent’.

Novelis national manager Andy Doran, said: “We welcome the consultation and the government's ambition to increase aluminium recycling, which is in step with our aims and those of the industry. The industry needs an underpinning support from steadily increasing, challenging but achievable targets.

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Defra packaging consultation

Alupro

Novelis

“Composite aluminium is very difficult to recover, but given the proposed changes I think technology will be developed and people will be able to start doing so. It is a prudent, sensible step.”

According to the Defra consultation, 147,500 tonnes of aluminium packaging waste was produced in the UK in 2010, 60,309 tonnes (40.9%) of which was recycled. Defra forecast that if targets are met by 2017, a total of 91,158 tonnes of aluminium packaging could be recycled per year.