Q: Where can I take my aluminium cans and foil for recycling?
A: Use Alupro's Recycling service locator to find the 'value' options in your area. The information covers both cash for cans centres (where you can sell your aluminium cans for cash) and local charities/community projects who would welcome your aluminium donations.
For details of your nearest local authority can bank visit www.recycle-more.co.uk.
Q: How much are aluminium cans and foil worth at a cash for cans centre?
A:You will be paid up to 45p per kg for sorted aluminium cans (around 65 cans, depending on size) and, if the centre buys foil, up to 30p per kg for clean aluminium foil. Please check prices at your nearest centres before you start collecting.
Q: Do aluminium cans and foil have to be collected separately?
A:Foil and cans are slightly different alloys, and are often recycled separately, particularly where closed-loop can recycling means that higher prices are paid for cans-only loads. Foil, and mixed cans and foil, are also often recycled in the secondary aluminium industry to make foundry alloys for light-weight car engine components such as cylinder heads.
Q: We would like to start a collection at work - can you provide collection boxes?
A: We are not able to give away collection boxes: Your local cash for cans centre may be able to provide bags and boxes.
You can purchase Every Can Counts boxes and liners, and other promotional materials at cost (plus a packing and delivery) from the online webshop: www.everycancounts.co.uk/shop. When setting up the collection make sure the servicing arrangements are clearly understood by a group of people, so there are no problems when staff leave the company.
Q: We are a school, and cannot afford to buy boxes. Can you help?
A: Clear plastic bags are a cheaper alternative to boxes. Or just use supermarket bin liners. Re-using a re-conditioned rigid container such as an oil drum or dustbin, with a liner, can also contribute to the environmental objectives of the project.
Q: I have heard that can-crushers are available. Do you know any suppliers?
A: Reducing the space needed to store cans means fewer journeys and greater environmental benefit. Lakeland, Tesco.com and John Lewis stock can crushers. You can also crush cans with your foot: lie the can on its side and tread the sidewall first, before flattening the ends in.
Q: Can I put aluminium foil into can banks?
A: Yes, as long as it says so on the collection bank!. Check with your local authority – more are starting to collect foil along with other recyclables as part of their regular household recycling service.
Q: Can aluminium foil laminates be recycled?
A: Foil laminates, e.g. medicine pill packs and food and juice cartons, cannot currently be recycled in the UK, but will be 'recovered' in energy-from-waste-plants.
Laminated packs containing aluminium foil are highly efficient, because of their low weight compared to other packages offering similar product protection. Low weight means low use of energy during distribution, which is good for the environment.
Q: Can shiny crisp and snack packets be recycled?
A: Some things are often marketed as 'foil wrapped for freshness'. However it is important to note that this material is metallised plastic film, and is not currently recyclable. Manufacturers are now labelling their packaging to explain what materials are used so you know whether it can be recycled.
Another way to check whether you have a foil or film wrapper is to ‘scrunch’ it in your fist. If it holds its shape it is aluminium, and so can be recycled. Otherwise it cannot currently be recycled.
Q: What about widgets in beer cans?
A: Drinks cans are shredded before going for de-coating. Plastic widgets become detached from the can shreds and are removed before the de-coating operation.
Q: Can I recycle aluminium aerosols?
A: Most local authorities now accept fully emptied aerosols for recycling along with food and drink cans, both in can banks and at the kerbside. Check with your local council to see if this is possible in your area.
When putting aerosols out for recycling remember to make sure they are completely empty and do not crush, puncture or heat them in any way. Any easily removable plastic parts (eg the cap) should be removed.
Q: What happens to aluminium packaging in energy-from-waste plants?
A: Thin-gauge and food-contaminated foils, as well as foil in laminates, oxidise in an incinerator, releasing energy with a calorific value similar to coal. The energy release will vary according to the efficiency and operating characteristics of the incinerator plant. Aluminium cans usually melt in an incinerator, releasing some energy during the initial exposure to heat. The cooled nodules of aluminium can be extracted from the bottom ash through eddy current separation.
Q: What happens to aluminium packaging in landfill?
A: Aluminium is inert, and eventually oxidises to aluminium oxide in a landfill site. This oxide is also inert. However, the benefits of recycling aluminium are so great that every effort should be made to divert the metal before landfill.
Q: What is the recycled content of aluminium cans and foil?
A: Most aluminium recycling - or what the industry calls secondary aluminium production - across the world will use a mix of different types of aluminium product feedstock, for practicality and maximum plant efficiency. So aluminium cans and foil will be recycled with, for example, aluminium window frames and vehicle bodies. A notable exception to this is the Novelis closed-loop can recycling plant at Warrington, where used beverage cans are recycled into ingot to make new ones.
The concept that the percentage of recycled content should be marked on products made from recycled packaging was devised to encourage the purchase of products made from recyclate. This is important where recycled materials are clearly of a different grade from virgin materials, and new markets and reprocessing technologies are needed.
However, aluminium has ample reprocessing capacity and, because the recycled metal is as good as primary aluminium, it has excellent markets. Whether a product is made from primary or secondary aluminium is a decision made according to alloy specification, and availability. The concept of a recycled content mark - particularly if it is decided to relate the mark only to post-consumer packaging - does not fit with the way the aluminium industry is structured, and it is meaningless as a measure of environmental worth, efficiency or best practice. What really matters is whether used products are recyclable - and whether they are actually recycled !
Q: My business has obligations for aluminium under the Packaging Waste legislation. Can you help?
A: Yes, we are happy to discuss issues relating to this complex legislation and represent the leading companies accredited to issue Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs). Please contact us.
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