Over 85% of councils in the UK are collecting aluminium foil for recycling

Over the past three years, the number of councils collecting aerosols has increased from 87 per cent to 96 per cent, providing almost complete coverage throughout the UK. Meanwhile, foil recycling has also seen a dramatic increase in collection, from just 35 per cent of councils in 2007 to 86 per cent today.

"Alupro provides local authorities with free materials to explain how to recycle empty aerosols, household foil and foil containers. We have also worked with councils and their service providers to dispel some of the myths about these materials being ‘difficult’ to recycle,” says Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Alupro. “We’re delighted to see how well councils have responded to this clear messaging, which has enabled more aluminium packaging to be recycled than ever before.”

500 brands use OPRL labels
“The latest Alupro statistics on kerbside collections indicate foil is now also eligible for Widely Recycled status,” said Jane Bevis, Chair of the On-Pack Recycling Label, OPRL. “We look forward to WRAP confirmation of this in our 2016 guidelines update, since we know seven in 10 consumers act on this clear recyclability advice when they see it. 500 brands use our labels across hundreds of thousands of products, so that can make a real difference.”

Foil currently has ‘Widely Recycled at Recycling Points: Check Locally for Kerbside’ status under the On-Pack Recycling Label scheme. Once 75 per cent of local authorities collect a material at the kerbside, this message changes to the simpler ‘Widely Recycled’ that consumers find so much easier to act on.

“Councils collecting aerosols and foil at the kerbside are sending a strong message to residents about how easy it is to recycle many materials from all around the home,” continues Rick Hindley. “Alupro has been instrumental in improving the coverage of these aerosol and foil collections, initially through its Aerofoil campaign and more recently the MetalMatters programme, which continues to make an impact up and down the country.”

Keeping momentum
MetalMatters is a proven and cost-effective approach for councils to communicate with residents about recycling their metal packaging. Alupro partners with local authorities and their waste contractors to deliver the MetalMatters programme, which has now reached half a million households in more than 50 council areas.

The average household uses 27 aerosols, 280 foil containers and 144 metres of aluminium foil a year.