Most community recycling operations collect aluminium because of its high value - currently around £600 per tonne - and the contribution it makes to running a successful business.

Many larger businesses are now able to win local authority household waste contracts, and others - especially those which have the primary role of providing social employment and training - also enter into partnerships with local authorities to service aluminium foil banks, and then bale the material for recycling at factory-gate price.

Fresh approach to away-from-home recycling

Community recycling businesses are well-placed to benefit from a fresh approach to sourcing the £25m-worth of aluminium, which is available at away-from-home locations such as workplaces, schools, sports, leisure and travel locations - as well as pubs, clubs and restaurants. These are prime recycling locations which are often not served by local authorities or large waste management companies.

The new opportunity exists because of changes in business responsibility to take account of environmental issues, increasing costs of waste disposal - and the fact that, as people become more used to recycling at home, they will want to recycle their drinks cans wherever they use them.

Alupro can help develop successful programmes which serve these potentially NEW business customers.   And our webshop provides collection containers and bags, which service providers can purchase at a discount. Telephone 01527 597757 or email info@alupro.org.uk to find out more.

Key pointers for success

Successful, efficient, high-volume recycling services can be operated where a reasonable density of away-from-home businesses are located:

• Savings in waste disposal costs mean that recycling makes sense for a business: provision of reliable service at a modest annual charge becomes an attractive proposition

• Signing-up for the service increases the incentive for a customer business to operate a well-run internal system, which produces more material, and saves more money. Recycling businesses need to be able to advise and help set up efficient internal systems for their customers, and Alupro can help with this

• A good recycling profile will help businesses instil other environmental and cost-saving priorities in their staff, such as energy saving, and demonstrates Corporate Social Responsibility

• The more business customers on an operator's service route are signed-up, the more efficient and profitable the whole service becomes

Click here for top of page.