August 2017 - Alupro

Alupro has announced that Tata Steel UK is increasing its support for MetalMatters; the metal packaging industry’s UK behavioral change programme which aims to boost capture rates for metal packaging collected at kerbside.

The European operations of Tata Steel, whose main steelmaking sites are in the UK and the Netherlands, comprise Europe’s second largest steel producer. They are the largest supplier and recycler of steel used in packaging sold onto the UK market – from food cans to aerosols.

Tata Steel serves many different and demanding markets worldwide, including aerospace, automotive, construction, energy and power and packaging. The European operations are a subsidiary of Tata Steel Group, one of the world’s top twelve steel producers. The combined group has an aggregate crude steel capacity of more than 29 million tonnes and approximately 80,000 employees across four continents.

Packaging Recycling Education Manager, Nicola Jones at Tata Steel,: “MetalMatters is a great example of industry and local authorities working together to engage local communities, increase recycling rates for metal packaging and reducing its product carbon footprint. We recognise that local authorities are under huge financial pressures which is impacting on their ability to deliver communications programmes essential for boosting recycling rates. The proven MetalMatters programme delivers impressive improvements in metal packaging recycling rates every time it is deployed. We are proud to be part of MetalMatters and are keen to actively support the ongoing development of the programme. We will also be encouraging our packaging customers to get involved.”

To date MetalMatters campaigns have been delivered in 81 local authorities across the UK, and have directly targeted over 5.3 million households. The campaign is based around a two-phase leaflet drop which informs and reminds householders about what and how to recycle, and explain what happens to metal packaging when it is recycled.

Rick Hindley, Executive Director of project managers, Alupro: “We are delighted that Tata Steel has committed to increase their support for MetalMatters. The additional contribution will allow us to expand the programme into even more local authority areas – we are currently identifying new opportunities to deploy the programme with local authorities and waste management companies for our 2018 schedule.

The programme is funded by a partnership of metal packaging manufacturers, fillers and reprocessors and is delivered on their behalf by Alupro, with support from local authorities and their waste collection partners.

ENDS

About MetalMatters

MetalMatters is a proven communications programme designed to support the UK’s current kerbside recycling schemes. It can be run in a single local authority, to target a select demographic group (e.g. by ACORN or Mosaic classification) or across a waste partnership area. The programme educates householders about metal packaging recycling and aims to motivate them to recycle more at home. For details of the industry partnership that funds the programme and case studies please visit the website www.metalmatters.org.uk

About Tata Steel UK

Tata Steel Europe (formerly Corus) is Europe’s second-largest steel producer. It supplies steel and related services to the construction, automotive, packaging, engineering and other sectors worldwide.

Corus was acquired by Tata Steel in April 2007 and made the Tata Steel group the world’s sixth largest steel producer

For more information, visit www.tatasteeleurope.com, or connect with us on Twitter.

Issued by:

Alupro Ltd, 1 Brockhill Court, Brockhill Lane, Redditch B97 6RB

Taurus Crafts, based in Lydney, are celebrating because with the help of local residents they have saved over two tonnes of aluminium foil from landfill in the past year.

The foil, collected through the bright yellow recycling banks sited around the Forest of Dean is processed by volunteers at Taurus Crafts. The project is supported by Forest of Dean District Council and Ubico who deliver the collected foil into the Lydney project.

Ingo Kresse from Taurus Crafts commented, “We would like to thank residents for using the yellow foil recycling banks sited around the Forest of Dean. We are delighted that during the last twelve months alone we recycled 2.2 tonnes of foil. Our recycling volunteers are very enthusiastic and proud of their achievement, and they do a great job. All clean aluminium foil, from takeaway containers, to pie cases and food wrapping foil can be recycled. We want to remind residents that some things, such as tablet packaging and pet food pouches look shiny, but are actually made of laminated plastic. A simple way to tell if something is foil is to scrunch it, if it springs back into shape it is plastic and cannot be recycled.”

Councillor Chris McFarling, Cabinet Member for the Environment at the Forest of Dean District Council said: “We are delighted to support Taurus Crafts with this initiative. It means that not only can residents recycle foil, which diverts waste from landfill, but they can do so knowing that they are supporting a very worthwhile local project because the money raised from the sale of the foil goes straight back to supporting Taurus Crafts.

“The average household throws away a ball of foil weighing one and a half kilos every year. If all of this was recycled it would be worth thousands of pounds that could be used by the organisations collecting it.”

There are big environmental benefits to recycling foil, as it can be endlessly recycled with no loss of quality, saving over 95% of the energy used to make it from raw materials. By recycling just one large foil takeaway or foil ready meal container, enough energy is saved to run a television for three hours.

The group is also supported by Alupro, who provide recycling sacks, protective clothing for recyclers who take part in the Taurus Crafts project, and provide a foil baler on free loan.

Foil banks are located at:

Grahamstown Road (Tidenham Royal British Legion), Sedbury
Co-op, Cinderford
Railway Drive Car Park, Coleford
Newerne Street Car Park, Lydney
Lewell Street Car Park, Newent
High Street, Ruardean
Ruspidge Road, Ruspidge

The foil collected from Oak Quarry Household Recycling Centre is also delivered to Taurus Crafts for recycling.

There are a further two wheelie bins on site at Taurus Crafts, Old Park, Lydney Park Estate, Lydney, for public use.

Tata Steel steps up support for MetalMatters

Alupro has announced that Tata Steel UK is increasing its support for MetalMatters; the metal packaging industry’s UK behavioral change programme which aims to boost capture rates for metal packaging collected at kerbside.

Taurus Celebrates The Forest’s Foil Recycling Success