Environment Agency reports record aluminium packaging recycling rates

The Environment Agency reported a record 40,653 tonnes of aluminium packaging were collected for recycling in Q2 2020. In the first half of 2020, 76,933 tonnes were collected for recycling, from 50,744 tonnes in the same period in 2019, an increase of 52%.

Aluminium packaging collected through kerbside, bring and on-the-go systems increased by 37% to 53,312 during the first half of the year 2020, from 38,882 tonnes in 2019), while tonnage recovered from incinerator bottom ash (IBA) nearly doubled to 23,621 tonnes, from 11,862 tonnes last year.

Rick Hindley, executive director at Alupro, commented: “The UK’s PRN data for Q2 2020 shows a hugely impressive year-on-year increase in the volume of aluminium packaging collected for recycling. Alongside greater public awareness about the benefits of recycling, figures should be attributed to the COVID-19 lockdown and the resulting increase in household recycling volumes.

“Perhaps the most surprising statistic was the hike in aluminium packaging recovered from IBA, which rose by an astonishing 99% compared to the same period in 2019. This, to some extent, can be accounted to an increase in the number of IBA processors accredited for reprocessing, as well as an increasing number of energy from waste (EfW) facilities coming on-stream nationwide. However, we are currently awaiting further verification of this data.

“With PRNs already raised for more than 76,000 tonnes of aluminium packaging in 2020, the future looks bright. While nothing is certain in this current climate, we are optimistic that, providing local authority collections continue to operate as normal, recycling rates will continue to rise and we will once again surpass annual targets.

“In fact, with 68% of this year’s obligation already achieved, it could be possible to realise recycling rates close to 80% for all aluminium packaging and 90% for aluminium beverage cans! Of course, this relies heavily on sustaining current rates throughout the rest of the year, PRN values remaining stable and no future disruptions to local authority collections.”