‘Standing room only’ at Labour Party Conference

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Last week (23 September), Alupro hosted an oversubscribed panel event at the Labour Party Conference. In a jam-packed function room at the ACC Liverpool, representatives from across industry, media and government discussed the importance of accelerating progress towards a circular packaging economy.

Alongside collectively outlining the importance of eliminating waste and promoting best practice recycling behaviours to achieve ambitious national targets, key themes discussed included the critical role of a well-designed deposit return scheme (DRS) and why Whitehall should follow Welsh best practice by setting binding recycling targets for local authorities.

The event was mediated by Rachael Burford, chief political correspondent at the Evening Standard, with panellists including Mary Creagh CBE, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Euan Stainbank, MP for Falkirk; Jess Asato, MP for Lowestoft; Allison Ogden-Newton, CEO of Keep Britain Tidy; and Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro.

Commenting on the event, Giddings said: “We were delighted to host such a well-attended and thought provoking panel session at the Labour Party Conference. With standing room only thanks to an audience comprising MPs, councillors, NGOs, trade associations, local authorities and representatives from major brands including Heineken, Britvic and Budweiser, the event delved into hard hitting national waste strategies and the importance of influential policy design.

“The superior credentials of aluminium packaging were a major talking point throughout, with the material considered pivotal to maximising recycling rates, minimising waste and ensuring a more circular packaging economy for the UK. MPs were asked to keep aluminium front of mind when designing policy to guarantee widespread positive environmental impact.

“When it comes to the question of ‘how can Labour deliver a truly circular economy’, I think we collectively came up with the answers.”

To find out more about Alupro, or the organisation’s consumer education initiatives, visit www.alupro.org.uk.

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Cherwell residents encouraged to recycle their metal packaging

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Alupro has partnered with Cherwell District Council to launch a new metal packaging recycling campaign. The ‘MetalMatters’ programme is designed to help increase kerbside recycling rates and raise awareness of the benefits of recycling household packaging made from metal.

The digital, postal and in-person campaign will allow residents to learn more about the best way to recycle metal items, whether from the comfort of their homes or at their local household recycling centre.

Councillor Ian Middleton, portfolio holder for neighbourhood services at Cherwell District Council, said: “Reduce, reuse and recycle is a key mantra at the heart of our priorities as a council and we know our residents do a brilliant job of recycling, but some may not know that there is one common household material that is 100 per cent recyclable – metal.

“While we have seen some fantastic improvement in our recycling contamination rates, we really need to see more people putting their metal packaging in the blue bin instead of the green one. Recycling metal packaging is easy to do and brings many benefits. The energy saved by recycling just one aluminium can will power a TV for three hours. It shows that we can make a huge difference with one small action!”

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, added: “For more than a decade, our MetalMatters programme has been educating the public about the benefits and importance of recycling metal packaging. We’re confident that the introduction of this campaign will help to drive an increase in recycling rates and households taking positive action across Cherwell.

“For us, the most important message is that metal is infinitely recyclable, meaning the quality and properties of the metal will be unchanged during the recycling process. Making a few small changes can add up to a big environmental impact.”

Find more information about MetalMatters and what you can recycle at the kerbside and at household recycling centres online at www.cherwell.gov.uk/metalmatters

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UK aluminium packaging recycling continues to grow in Q2

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According to recent data published on the National Packaging Waste Database by the Environment Agency, aluminium packaging recycling volumes reported further growth in Q2. Recording a 3% increase compared to the same period in 2023, the industry is firmly on track to once again exceed annual recycling targets.

In total, 45,246 tonnes of aluminium packaging were collected for recycling. This included 29,831 tonnes through kerbside, bring and on-the-go systems (+4% YOY), as well as 13,156 tonnes recovered from incinerator bottom ash (IBA).

So far in 2024, 84,222 tonnes of aluminium packaging have been collected for recycling in the UK, some 59% of the volume needed to meet this year’s annual target (140,431). The market is already tracking ahead of target and already looks on track to report excellent recycling rates for the fourth year running.

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, commented: “Despite a year of disruptions, delays and political change, it’s positive to see that aluminium packaging recycling volumes have continued to increase. This is particularly impressive considering the growth of material tonnage placed on the market so far in 2024.

“If we continue at this pace, there’s no reason why the industry can’t surpass targets and once again achieve record rates. This success reflects national behavioural change and consumer proactivity when it comes to aluminium packaging recycling, driven in the main by creative initiatives and incentives from across the supply chain.

“As usual, the only sting in the tail comes in the form of fluctuating PRN prices, which remain excessively high and therefore have the potential to derail progress over the coming months. Moving forward, EPR reform will prove pivotal to removing this as a common obstacle and supporting the industry’s continued progress. This, alongside wider policy progress (such as the introduction of a variable rate deposit return scheme) will build momentum towards achieving the long-term goal of a 100% aluminium packaging recycling rate for the UK.

“In the meantime, it’s essential that consumers continue to follow best practice recycling guidance, and that educational initiatives, such as our MetalMatters and Every Can Counts programmes, continue to expand in order to inspire positive national recycling behaviours.”

For more information about Q2 recycling volumes, visit https://npwd.environment-agency.gov.uk. To find out more about Alupro, or the organisation’s consumer education initiatives, visit www.alupro.org.uk.

 

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Alupro to host expert panel discussion at RWM 2024

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At this year’s RWM exhibition (NEC, 11-12 September), Alupro will bring together some of the supply chain’s leading voices for a panel discussion digging deeper into the challenges and opportunities of aluminium foil recycling.

Sustainability and public affairs manager Martin Hyde will chair the session, which will take place on the Packaging and EPR stage (Wednesday, 2pm). Dr. Ann Stevenson, circular economy lead at Resource Futures; and Michael Goor, head of new channel sales at I2R Packaging Solutions, will participate in the discussion and deliver presentations unveiling the results of recent research measuring foil capture rates.

Alongside the panel discussion, the Alupro team will be exhibiting on Stand RS-I128 throughout the event, showcasing their latest awareness campaigns and educational initiatives.

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, commented: “Now part of the Environmental Services and Solutions Expo (ESS), a collection of five specialist trade events bringing together thousands of leading sustainability professionals from across Europe, RWM offers a valuable platform to engage with the industry, share our latest research and address critical issues.

“We’re looking forward to sharing the latest insight into aluminium foil recycling, while digging deeper into challenges and opportunities with Ann and Michael. The discussion will emphasise the importance of effective recycling for a circular packaging economy, identify opportunities for improvements to the UK’s collection infrastructure and identify the policy needed to deliver accelerated progress.”

Head over to Stand RS-I128 at RWM 2024 and speak to the team.

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RECAP sees metal recycling capture rates soar, thanks to innovative engagement campaign

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As part of an ongoing drive to further improve resident engagement and deliver a measurable uplift in metal packaging recycling rates, RECAP rolled out the MetalMatters initiative. The campaign drove an immediate rise in metal packaging collection volumes and material quality, with the cost of deployment paid back in less than four weeks.

Situated within East Anglia, the counties of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough boast beautiful landscapes, expansive fenlands, charming cathedral towns and vibrant cities. The region is a highly desirable location for tourists, householders and businesses alike.

Since 1999, waste management has been collectively delivered under the RECAP (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership) banner.

Uniting seven local authorities: Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdon District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Peterborough City Council, RECAP’s vision is to improve waste management practices and promote best practice recycling across the region.

Working together to reduce waste, develop infrastructure and identify environmentally responsible ways to meet the needs of local communities, the partnership embraces a number of projects to accelerate its progress – including the Recyclable Summer Challenge, Wear it Love it Share it, and Love Food Hate Waste. In May 2023, it partnered with Alupro to roll-out MetalMatters, an educational initiative designed specifically to increase kerbside recycling rates and increase metal packaging collection volumes.

Navigating budget parameters

With a budget of just £37,000 and the requirement to target 372,000 households across the region, the initiative harnessed a variety of communications tactics to engage with the public and encourage better recycling habits.

Alongside a series of advertisements on buses and local radio stations, a robust social media campaign was implemented, featuring an interactive animated video and a suite of supporting graphics. The assets aimed to educate residents as to which metal packaging items can be recycled through the council’s kerbside collections, while also providing links to further information on the RECAP website.

To support the campaign and deliver an added buzz, TATA Steel – one of MetalMatters’ funding partners – hosted a series of dedicated recycling workshops in local schools across the region.

Delivering impressive results

The impact was almost immediate. Initial analysis demonstrated that metal capture rates increased by 14.4% (23.7% rise in aluminium packaging collected for recycling, 6.2% rise in steel cans) the campaign resulted in substantial cost savings and revenue generation. RECAP reported a £58,112 saving in landfill costs, based on an average of £120 per tonne. Additionally, the increased recycling of aluminium and steel provided an added resale value of £294,629 (with aluminium costed at £800 per tonne and steel at £100 per tonne). All in all, the campaign paid for itself in just four weeks.

The success of the programme demonstrates the effectiveness of a well-rounded communications strategy that leverages both traditional and digital media channels. By reaching out to residents directly and proactively, the campaign achieved a wide reach, leading to significant environmental and financial benefits.

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, facilitator of MetalMatters, said: “Since launching the MetalMatters initiative in 2012, we’ve partnered with 128 local authorities across the UK, sharing positive recycling messaging, helping to educate more than eight million residents, and delivering significant environmental impact.

“Funded by the metal packaging industry, MetalMatters educates householders about the benefits of metal packaging and encourage them to recycle. Designed to support kerbside recycling schemes, MetalMatters can be implemented by local authorities across a region, by collection round or by demographic targeting.

“By delivering targeted educational materials and clear recycling guidelines, the initiative fosters a greater understanding of the environmental and economic benefits of recycling metal packaging. It underscores the effectiveness of well-crafted, informative campaigns in driving behavioural change and promoting environmental stability.”

MetalMatters is now seeking partners for its 2025 campaign schedule. To discover how MetalMatters could be deployed in your area, email info@alupro.org.uk or visit www.metalmatters.org.uk. Or, for more information about Alupro, visit www.alupro.org.uk.

Yorkshire pupil takes home first prize in national recycling competition

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Daisy Goddard-Dickinson, a year 6 pupil from St Nicholas CofE Primary School near Ripon, has scooped first place in a national competition run by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro).

Organised as part of ‘Bin-fluencers’, an educational programme aimed at KS3 pupils to help improve knowledge about recycling, the competition invited schoolchildren from all over the UK to come up with a novel design for a recycling bin that would encourage their classmates to think twice about throwing away their rubbish.

Perfectly answering the brief with her creative entry, Daisy’s design really stood out from the crowd. The judges were impressed with her imaginative approach and awarded her first place. Daisy’s prize will include seeing her winning design emblazoned on a brand new recycling bin, as well as taking home an iPad. Her classmates will also enjoy a £250 voucher to spend on books, art equipment and other supplies.

Miss Marlow, teacher at St Nicholas CofE Primary School, said: “When we heard about the Bin-fluencers programme, we were really excited to take part. The fun activities provided by Alupro were really engaging and got our pupils talking about the importance of recycling.

“Everybody enjoyed learning about what we should and shouldn’t do with our waste, as well as how making a few small changes can have a positive impact on the planet. We’re so proud of Daisy for her winning competition entry and we can’t wait to see her bin used by our children!”

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, added: “With the ambition of increasing national recycling rates, educating the next generation is a really important task. Bin-fluencers is just one of many campaigns that we run to improve awareness and understanding in a fun and creative way. It seems to have gone down a storm with staff and students alike.

“We were really impressed with the entries that we received, but Daisy’s design really grabbed us. She’s a hugely deserving winner and we hope that the competition has inspired the entire school to think carefully about the importance of recycling.”

Bin-fluencers is a creative campaign that brings resource efficiency into the classroom. Aimed at KS3 pupils, the initiative explores the benefits of recycling, the unique properties of packaging materials and the link between consumption and the environment. Supporting teaching notes, fact-filled animations, curriculum links, quiz questions and challenge sheets are available to download from the Learning Aluminium website.

For more information about Alupro’s latest educational initiatives, visit www.learningaluminium.co.uk.

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Alupro announced as latest sponsor of the LARAC Wales Conference

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Alupro, the aluminium packaging recycling organisation, has been announced as the latest sponsor of this year’s LARAC Wales Conference. Taking place on 9 July at the Leonardo Hotel in Cardiff, the event will bring together hundreds of local authority representatives to discuss the key issues around running an efficient waste and recycling service.

Delegates attending the one day event will have the opportunity to discuss Alupro’s award-winning consumer engagement campaigns. Alongside Masters of Infinity and Bin-fluencers, its school-age awareness programmes, the team will shine a spotlight on its hugely successful MetalMatters initiative.

Specifically designed to boost household metal packaging recycling rates, MetalMatters was first launched in 2012 and has since been adopted by 114 councils across the UK. The programme uses direct communications to drive positive behavioural change, with councils reporting a significant upturn in both the volume and quality of metal packaging collected for recycling.

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, commented: “Wales currently sits third in the global league table for household recycling performance, reporting a 65% recycling rate and offsetting the release of more than 400,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per annum. While legislation has proven pivotal to achieving this, so too have the numerous initiatives implemented to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and inspire behavioural change – particularly when it comes to difficult to reach audiences.

“Having rolled-out our educational programmes in partnership with hundreds of local authorities across the UK, we know the impact they can achieve, as well as the knock-on effect to recycling volumes. With hundreds of engaged delegates set to descend on Cardiff for the LARAC Wales Conference, we’re looking forward to attending this year’s conference and discussing how we can help councils to further improve their recycling performance.

“While many local authorities will already be aware of our work, we have a number of exciting updates and developments ready to share, alongside the results of our latest campaigns and competitions.”

To find out more about MetalMatters, or to register your interest, visit www.metalmatters.org.uk.

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SUEZ AND ALUPRO ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO INCREASE AEROSOL RECYCLING

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SUEZ recycling and recovery UK today announced it has entered a two-year partnership with Alupro, the aluminium packaging recycling organisation, as part of a roadmap to increasing UK aerosol recycling rates.

An estimated 650 million metal aerosols are used in the UK each year, with over 80% of these used in the home. Upcoming reforms to packaging recycling in the UK, including a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, Simpler Recycling in England and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), present an opportunity for the metal packaging sector to redouble their efforts to push metal recycling rates even higher than they are today (the aluminium packaging recycling rate for 2023 was 68%.)

The project aims to provide data and case studies on how to increase the capture, sorting and treatment of aerosols. The first phase, over the coming 12 months, will see SUEZ recruit three local authorities in different areas across the UK to monitor and analyse aerosol capture rates, ready for the next phase of the trial to start in 2025. The next phase of the trial will see a year-long sampling exercise measuring the quantities of aerosols collected through both the residual and recycling kerbside streams, as well as looking into the challenges of sorting and analysing aerosols collected through the kerbside system. Further, the year will see the trialling of a brand new communications campaign to consumers to boost aerosol recycling.

Research by Alupro has shown many people are unsure of how to dispose of aerosols and as a result, fewer aerosols are disposed of in household recycling collections, compared to most other forms of metal packaging. In 2023, the Environmental Services Association (ESA) found that 18% of the UK population admitted to throwing aerosols in their normal rubbish bin in the past year. This project will improve public knowledge around best practice recycling, establish a baseline recycling rate and roadmap for achieving higher future rates for aerosol recycling, and seek to stimulate substantial long-term investment into recycling infrastructure.

Through this partnership, SUEZ and Alupro will work together towards their goal of consumers recycling all their empty aerosols responsibly in their household collection service, with confidence that this will result in their packaging waste being collected, sorted, recycled and transformed into something new.

Partners

Led by Alupro, the UK Aerosol Recycling Initiative brings together partners from across the aerosols value chain. These partners include Suez recycling and recovery UK, Ball Aerosol Packaging, Trivium Packaging, the British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA), packaging compliance scheme Ecosurety, consumer brand Henkel, valve manufacturer LINDAL Group, The Materials Processing Institute, waste company CleanEco and processors of reclaimed metal Tandom Metallurgical Group Ltd and Tata Steel.

John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Alupro on this exciting and important initiative to improve aerosol recycling in the UK. With the 50% aluminium recycling target coming in the near future under EPR, excluding drinks containers, it’s imperative that we maximise the recycling rates of aerosols, through establishing a baseline recycling rate and improving public understanding. We’re pleased to be partnering with Alupro to drive forward this initiative and share best practice with the sector through our research findings.” 

Tom Giddings, Executive Director at Alupro, said: “This communications, collections and sorting trial represents the next big milestone on our roadmap to higher recycling rates for aerosols, and we’re delighted to partner with Suez, whose expertise in delivering innovative projects led us to approach them to help us with this. We’re excited to see the results of the trial as they develop and to use them to build a blueprint for higher recycling rates. Hopefully, the UK Aerosol Recycling Initiative will serve as a template for how responsible industries can collaborate to bring the circular economy to life; after all, metal is the perfect material for recycling again and again, so we should be minimising how much we waste!”

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Notes to Editors:

About SUEZ

SUEZ recycling and recovery UK employs over 6,200 people, operating across hundreds of sites, and handles approximately 11 million tonnes of waste materials every year – a significant proportion of the UK’s total waste. Through collection, treatment, recycling and logistics operations, it serves more than 30,000 business customers and millions of householders throughout the country. Please visit https://www.suez.co.uk to find out more.

About Alupro

Alupro is an industry funded, not-for-profit organisation with over 30 years’ experience representing the UK’s aluminium packaging industry. We work to fulfil the industry’s obligation to meet, and exceed, recycling targets for aluminium packaging.

We are achieving this by working in partnership with local authorities, the waste management industry and the wider metal packaging sector to develop and stimulate the UK’s collection infrastructure. We also manage and run consumer information and education campaigns to encourage participation in recycling schemes.

Powys County Council rolls out MetalMatters programme

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A digital campaign promoting best practice metal packaging recycling is set to be rolled out across Powys. Launching on Monday 17 June, the six-week programme will target more than 67,000 households across the region, with the aim of improving kerbside recycling rates.

Delivered by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), ‘MetalMatters’ will use targeted social media updates to engage with residents and communicate the benefits of recycling metal packaging.

The launch marks the second time MetalMatters has been deployed across Powys, with the campaign first introduced back in 2018. Comprising a mass leaflet drop and supporting marketing activities, the initiative resulted in a significant increase in both recycling volume and quality.

Commenting on the launch, Matt Perry, Powys County Council’s chief officer – place, commented: “We know that the vast majority of people in Powys are already great at recycling, but together we can achieve so much more. MetalMatters allows us to engage with our residents and encourage them to think about their recycling habits.

“We were delighted with the results of the MetalMatters programme when we first launched the initiative back in 2018. With social media now widely considered a key route to homeowners, adopting the digital version of the programme will help to once again bring metal packaging recycling firmly up the priority list.”

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Powys County Council to roll-out MetalMatters. With the campaign having already proven itself in 2018, we’re confident that implementing digital engagement tactics will help to reach even more residents, driving an increase in recycling rates and encouraging households across Powys to take positive action.

“For more than a decade, we’ve delivered our MetalMatters initiative in partnership with local authorities across the UK to educate the public on making a few small changes to deliver significant environmental impact.”

Funded by the metal packaging industry, MetalMatters aims to educate householders about the benefits of metal packaging and encourage them to recycle. Designed to support kerbside recycling schemes, MetalMatters can be implemented by local authorities across a region, by collection round or by demographic targeting.

For more information about MetalMatters, or to register your interest, visit www.metalmatters.org.uk.

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Alupro to discuss importance of policy in driving higher recycling rates for aluminium packaging at sustainability strategy event

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Next week (6 June), Martin Hyde, Sustainability & Public Affairs Manager at Alupro, will share his thoughts on the pivotal role of policy in supporting a sustainable future for UK aluminium at the 2024 ALFED EnvironmentAl Sustainability Strategy Day.

Taking place at BMA House in central London, the event will bring together hundreds of delegates from across the UK aluminium supply chain to discuss navigating the industry’s journey to net zero. Alongside insightful workshops, technology showcases and networking opportunities, the event will host a number of keynote presentations from some of the sectors most renowned thought leaders.

As part of the afternoon agenda, Hyde will join the ‘Next steps for UK aluminium’ panel discussion, alongside representatives from seven other member organisations. Hosted by Dr Mark Jones from the Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST), the 45-minute session will see a broad range of topics discussed, including best practice strategies to help decarbonise the sector.

Representing aluminium packaging, Hyde will explore the pivotal role of policy in supporting the industry’s sustainable future. Alongside reporting on the sector’s recent progress and successes, he will showcase Alupro’s 2024 Aluminium Manifesto, which details policy changes needed to achieve a world-class recycling system across the UK.

Commenting on the event, Hyde said: “The ALFED EnvironmentAl Sustainability Strategy Day is a great opportunity to connect with peers from across the aluminium supply chain and discuss best practice approaches to support the industry’s pathway towards net zero.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the latest iteration of our pioneering manifesto, which celebrates the positive progress made to date, as well as communicating the views of the aluminium packaging industry when it comes to required improvements. Alongside calling for change across infrastructure, communications and legislation, the report flags confusion around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the need for sector-specific innovation support.”

To download Alupros updated manifesto, visit alupro.org.uk/manifesto-update

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