Beverage cartons recycling hits milestone

Some 60% of local authorities are now collecting beverage cartons for recycling from kerbside, according to the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK.

The figure shows a leap from levels in 2006, when only 4% of local authorities took part in kerbside schemes.

If bring bank schemes are included, a total of 91% of local authorities collect cartons for recycling.

The 60% mark was reached after the Norfolk Waste Partnership joined the programme. It launched a new recycling scheme for residents on 1 October 2014.

Norfolk Waste Partnership technical adviser Adrian Akester said the scheme would help the partnership meet a target of increase recycling by 5-10%.

ACE UK chief executive Richard Hands said the organisation’s “re:cartons” campaign was launched to provide information and marketing materials for local authorities.

“Through the creation of a clear, easy to understand identity that everyone can immediately associate with beverage carton recycling, it will act as a platform to promote even greater carton recycling across the country,” he said.

On-Pack Recycling Label scheme chair Jane Bevis said ACE’s efforts would help the UK meet 2020 recycling targets.

“With household recycling rates in danger of stalling this is really important news - we know the easier you make it for consumers to recycle, the more that gets recycled,” she said.

In 2013, ACE UK and partner Sonoco Alcore, which supplies tube and core products, opened the UK’s only dedicated beverage carton recycling facility at Stainland, West Yorkshire. It recycles cartons from 38% of local authorities through kerbside and bring bank schemes.

All of the materials used in the manufacture of beverage cartons are fully recyclable. On average a carton is made up of 75% fibre, 21% polymer and 4% aluminium.