Aluminum Beverage Can Recycling Rate Scales New Height in Europe

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The latest press release by the European Aluminum Association indicates that overall recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans in Europe touched record high of 72.9% in 2014, higher by 1.6% when compared with the prior year. The rates are very close to the recycling target of 75% proposed by the European Union for 2025 in its Circular Economy Package.

According to the report, nearly 30 billion aluminum cans have been recycled throughout the European continent, including other East-European countries, Russia and Turkey. This essentially means that Europe recycles an aluminum beverage can in every second. The recycling of cans results in significant cost savings and environment protection, as production of new aluminum from recycled aluminum consumes 95% less energy when compared with the production of the same from virgin raw materials.

Germany and Finland led the European region with aluminum beverage can recycling rates of 99% each during the year. In third place was Belgium (98%), followed by Luxembourg and Switzerland with recycling rates of 92% each. Iceland clocked recycling rate of 90%. On the other hand, Portugal and Latvia reported the lowest recycling rate of 30%. Cyprus and Greece too recorded miserable recycling rate of 32%. The other countries to report low recycling rates were Hungary (36%), Croatia and Malta (39% each).

Maarten Labberton, Director of the European Aluminum Packaging Group urged EU member countries to put extra effort in collecting, sorting and recycling more beverage and drinks cans and other aluminum packaging items to help it achieve the ambitious 75% target. Labberton called for increased investments by authorities and waste management partners in innovative sorting technologies. The high scrap value of aluminum will make sure that the investments are paid off quickly, he added.

The ‘Every Can Counts’ awareness program designed by European Aluminum Association has played a significant role in increasing the aluminum beverage can recycling rates in many countries, by way of collection of cans from places outside of home such as offices, festivals, tournaments, outdoor events etc. Currently, there are 12 ‘Every Can Counts’ programmes operating in 14 countries. Altogether, there are around 15,000 collection points across Europe. During this year, Poland and Belgium joined the programme in July this year. More and more countries in the region are expected to join the programme in the near future.