MetalMatters launches new recycling campaign in Bedford

Metal recycling campaign, MetalMatters, has launched a ‘major’ communications campaign in Bedford to encourage local residents to recycle more metal packaging.

The eight-week campaign, run in partnership with Bedford Borough Council and managed by the Aluminium Packaging and Recycling Organisation (Alupro), hopes to see residents recycle more of the estimated 1,400 tonnes of metal packaging used each year.

The communications campaign will involve a two-phase leaflet drop to 69,000 households in the county that will outline the types of metal packaging that are recyclable and what happens to these metals once they have been collected. Advertising will also be displayed on five council recycling vehicles, which will carry the ‘make your metals matter’ message.

Further to this, road shows in the town centre and at local events will also run to provide residents with further information.

According to MetalMatters, Bedford Borough Council could save a ‘significant’ amount of money annually by recycling more metal packaging. Indeed, the campaign says that used metal packaging is ‘highly valuable’ as it can be recycled into new products at a far lower cost to industry than making them from raw materials.

Further, the campaign group said that if all the metal packaging used in Bedford each year was collected for recycling, it would save around 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent to taking 960 cars off local streets.

Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder at Bedford Borough Council, explained: “By implementing the MetalMatters programme we are encouraging householders to recycle more of their metal packaging. We’re committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and the campaign will help us to better communicate the benefits of recycling to local residents.

“With support from MetalMatters, we are looking forward to getting out in the area and speaking directly to people at our summer roadshows. We will be using these events to show people just how easy it is to recycle metal packaging, such as food and drink cans and aerosols, and do their bit for the environment.”