It’s not just drink cans!
We all know that drink cans are recyclable, and that recycling them benefits the environment. But we are less aware of the other forms of aluminium packaging which can also be recycled to save even more raw materials and energy.
Aluminium is used in a variety of packaging applications, notably food trays (pie cases, diary lidding and ready meal containers) and aerosols (deodorants, shaving foam and household cleaning products).
Most local authorities now collect these materials for recycling, either at the kerbside or through bring banks. The collection system is expanding all the time, so check with your local authority to see whether you can recycle these from home, or what other facilities exist locally. Alupro works with many voluntary organisations and social enterprises who use the revenue from aluminium recycling to fund their operations and benefit their local community.
Use our recycling locator to see if there are groups in your area who will accept donations of drink cans and foil. Or visit Recycle Now to check what you can recycle locally.
Householders want to recycle more
Recent opinion research for Alupro shows that although 67% of local authorities will accept empty aerosols for recycling, only 39% of householders think they can recycle in their area, while 84% say they would recycle them if the facility was available.
There is good demand for foil recycling services, with 70% of survey respondents knowing that the material is fully recyclable, while only 59% are able to recycle locally. Of the others, 85% say they would recycle clean foil if they could.
The environmental benefits of recycling metals are well understood, with 75% of respondents knowing that energy and carbon emission savings achieved through recycling metals are significant or good.
Boosting recycling rates
Alupro is managing a new initiative to encourage local authorities and waste management companies to collect empty aerosols and clean aluminium foil alongside drinks cans, and to offer advice and support to councils expanding their collection programmes. Full details can be found on www.aerofoil.org.uk
It’s never been easier for local authorities and waste management companies to boost recycling rates by adding empty aerosols and clean foil to their collection programmes, with routes to re-melt now available for mixed aluminium packaging, as well as the higher value routes of collecting drinks cans and aerosols together, with foil kept separate.
Unilever, British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA) and steel packaging reprocessor Corus are partners with Alupro in this initiative, along with aluminium foil tray manufacturers Coppice Alupack, Nicholl Food Packaging, Jena and i2r Packaging Solutions.
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