The prestigious Haberdashers’ Hall in London played host to the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (ALUPRO) as over 100 guests gathered to celebrate the organisation’s 25^th anniversary.

The black tie dinner event was opened by Rick Hindley, Alupro’s Executive Director, who was one of the organisation’s first employees back in 1989. Rick reflected on the organisation’s successful campaigns over the last 25 years which have seen the recycling rate for aluminium packaging rise from less than 2% in 1989 to 43% in 2013 (57% for beverage cans) whilst also looking to the challenges facing the aluminium packaging recycling sector in the future.

After dinner the audience, which included some of Alupro’s founder members, current members and campaign partners, industry associates and staff, enjoyed guest speaker, TV and radio broadcaster Jeremy Vine who gave his own entertaining perspective on recycling, as well as providing anecdotes taken from his eventful career.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Water, Forestry, Rural Affairs and Resource Management, Dan Rogerson MP offered his best wishes to Alupro, commenting: “Over the past 25 years recycling in the UK has become an established part of all of our daily lives, and the aluminium packaging industry can take a lot of the credit for having shaped this
change through the hugely successful MetalMatters and Every Can Counts awareness-raising campaigns.

“I’m sure that with the support of its members Alupro will continue to ensure more of this valuable material is recovered, so that the UK and Europe reap the benefit of aluminium’s endless recyclability.”

Rick Hindley said: “The evening was a great success and it was a real pleasure to celebrate with so many old friends, colleagues and programme partners who have helped make Alupro the success it is today. The future holds many challenges for the aluminium packaging recycling sector, but the enthusiasm and commitment shown by our members ensures Alupro is in the best possible position to face the next 25 years with confidence.”