Recycling report welcomed by packaging sector
benefits in including metal cans in kerbside collection schemes has
been roundly welcomed by the metal packaging industry, writes
Anthony Fletcher.
The study, funded by the UK department of trade and industry (DTI) and conducted by Dr Julia Hummel of Eco Alternatives, examined the economic impacts of including metal packaging (aluminium and steel food and drink cans and foil) in multi-material kerbside collections of household recyclables.
The conclusions of the study give clear guidance to local authorities and show that whether local authorities are introducing a new collection scheme, or expanding an existing one, there are likely to be quantifiable economic benefits if metal packaging is included.
Corus Steel Packaging Recycling manager John May said that the study vindicated the sector's claims that there are real advantages to be gained by including both steel and aluminium packaging in kerbside collection systems.
"Together with our partners in the aluminium industry, we would like to see local authorities establish and expand systems to collect both steel and aluminium," he said. "Given the fact that there are also ready markets for the collected metals, there is every reason to collect them."
May said that at a time when the wisdom of purely weight-based targets is being questioned, the conclusions of this study have added significance. "Furthermore, the focus on the removal of biodegradable waste from landfill fails to encourage local authorities to take this advantageous step," he said. "Not only will steel and aluminium add to the weight collected, they will also generally assist the economics."
Paul Martin, chief executive of Alupro (Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation) claimed that the study showed that even at low levels of recovery, collecting metals can reduce the overall refuse and recycling collection and disposal costs.
"At high levels of metals recovery, the cost benefit on the overall system can be considerable," he said. "The results of this independent research now enable us to go directly to local authorities with strong evidence of the benefits available."
The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive of 1994, recently revised in 2004, sets new, even more challenging and differentiating, recycling targets for all packaging materials. In this new legal frame, metals have to achieve a 50 per cent recycling rate in 12 European countries by 2008.
The new accession countries will also have to comply with European law and invest massively in collection systems to be able to do so.
In order to achieve these targets, steel - and for that matter aluminium - manufacturers have been pressuring local authorities to establish more curbside recycling collection points. The conclusions of this report should go some way to helping them achieve this objective.
