Why now?

Consumer demand for local authority recycling services to include more materials has never been higher

In the case of aluminium foil and aerosols research conducted by Alupro shows that over 80% of householders would recycle both materials if a service was offered by their local authority.

What many in our survey didn't appreciate was that many local authorities already do collect aluminium foil and/or aerosols at the kerbside. So raising awareness of what can be recycled from home is key to increasing participation and the success of your collection programme.

The research was conducted for Alupro in August 2009.

Valuable, recyclable materials are being lost to landfill

Whilst the metals recycling infrastructure in the UK is comprehensive and well-established, recycling performance still has room for improvement.
Every year in the UK 29,500 tonnes of aerosols are sold and 16,000 tonnes of aluminium foil are used in packaging applications. This metal is 100% recyclable and so attracts a high price from reprocessors.
5,700 tonnes of aluminium aerosols are sold every year - aluminium aerosols are 99.7% pure aluminium.
Foil containers and aerosols can both be collected successfully at the kerbside with little or no additional cost and many local authorities are already achieving good recovery rates.

Hard to recycle?

Whilst householders might not be aware that foil and aerosols can be recycled, there is a also perception amongst collectors that both materials are 'difficult to recycle' because of health and safety issues and concern about the risk of contamination, e.g. from food residues or plastics.
These concerns can be overcome by working closely with waste management providers, and providing householders with clear, and regular information on how to present materials for recycling.

Carbon – driving the future of recycling

Aluminium and steel are both infinitely recyclable, and the carbon savings increase each time the metal passes through the recycling 'loop'.
The Government's 2007 Waste Strategy identified aluminium as a 'priority' material and attention is already focusing on increasing opportunities and improving systems for collecting the metal for recycling.
This carbon focus will shape future local authority and packaging targets, so the metal packaging and recycling industry is keen to promote the carbon-saving benefits of recycling metals and encourage greater recycling. Increasing metal recycling can, and will, make a valuable contribution to cutting carbon emissions in the future.
Acting now to maximise diversion of aluminium foil and aerosols from landfill is the sensible option and can be achieved without expensive changes in collection infrastructure.

Talk to us about your collection

We will be happy to discuss your current collection arrangements and offer all the advice and support you need to include, or expand, your service to householders.