European recycling statistics shows aluminium beverage can recycling rate touched 74.5% in 2017

The European Aluminium and Metal Packaging Europe have published the latest European recycling statistics for aluminium beverage cans today, October 14. The report shows the recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland in 2017 rose 2.3% from 2016 (72.8%), to reach an all-time record high of 74.5% in 2017, boosting its contribution towards European Circular Economy. By weight, EU and EFTA countries recycled 420,000 tonnes of aluminium and by number; the countries recycled almost 31 billion cans in 2017.

Aluminium can recycling saves about 3 million tons of GHG emissions annually - or the annual emissions of a mid-sized European town like Belfast, Malmö or Thessaloniki.

According to Metal Packaging Europe members, European can recycling rate is likely to increase further in the coming decade because of various measures like improved can collection system and deposit return schemes and cash for cans schemes.

Can manufacturers and aluminium recyclers are ready to invest in expanding recycling capacities. Such efforts, according to them, can be enhanced by co-operation from other stakeholders, such as public and private waste management operators.

Leonie Knox-Peebles, CEO of Metal Packaging Europe, stated: “We believe that the new European calculation method will hardly impact the final recycling rates being achieved for aluminium everage cans.” Maarten Labberton, Director Packaging Group at European Aluminium, added: “As we move towards our 100% recycling rate target, what matters most is the recycling yields; aluminium is well positioned for the future given its very low losses during recycling.”

Recycling rates have been calculated on the basis of the present EU reporting rules.