Aluminum Can Recycling Rate Hit New Record in 2017

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The recent report published by the Aluminum Packaging Recycling Organization (ALUPRO) indicates that aluminum can recycling rates increased during 2017.

As per the report, the recycling rate for aluminum cans continued to increase over the previous year in 2017 to hit 72%. This is notably higher when compared with the recycling rate of 70% in 2016. Meantime, the national recycling rate for all aluminum packaging has also improved from 50% in 2016 to 51% in 2017, the industry group report said.

The data published by the UK’s Environment Agency notes that the number of Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) surged higher by 4% from 90,095 mt in 2016 to 94,092 mt in 2017. The recycling of 94,092 mt has resulted in savings of 846,828 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The jump in PRNs indicates that more quantity of waste packaging material has been recycled into new products. Also figures show that nearly 8,000 mt of aluminum PRNs were raised but not generated during the previous year.

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The data also suggests that 92% of aluminum packaging collected for recycling in the UK was recycled within Europe. 51% of aluminum packaging collected was recycled in the UK and 41% recycled in Europe. This clearly indicates that there exists more than adequate capacity within the EU to meet the recycling needs of recovered aluminum packaging in the UK.

Rick Hindley, Executive Director, Alupro expressed satisfaction over the year-on-year increase in aluminum packaging recycling rates. He further highlighted the need for increasing awareness and education to general public on what actually happens to used aluminum packaging when it is recycled. The 92% recycling rate will instill confidence in people, by making it clear that the used aluminum packaging is safely recycled. The respective administrations must act immediately to do away with confusions on account of contradictory rules across different local authorities.