The Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) has announced that Carlsberg UK has become its newest member and has also joined the funding partners of the “Every Can Counts” recycling programme. Read more
The communications campaign which targeted over 600,000 households has driven a 9% increase in the tonnage of metal packaging captured at the kerbside. Read more
ALUPRO has launched a new recycling communications initiative for local authorities to increase the recovery of aluminium caps and closures for recycling. The new “You Can Leave Your Cap On” campaign, in partnership with British Glass and the EAFA (European Aluminium Foil Association), encourages recyclers to screw the caps back on their empty bottles before recycling as the metal can be successfully extracted
Following research by Alupro into the UK closure market via both its members and those of British Glass, it was discovered that approximately 5,000 tonnes of aluminium from caps and closures could be recovered. At today’s raw material prices that’s over £2 million worth of aluminium that could be diverted from landfill. It was also highlighted that there is currently no end-user messages or communication focussing on recycling aluminium caps and closures via either kerbside collections or bring bank systems throughout the UK.during the glass recycling process. Read more
Alupro (Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation), has welcomed the opportunity to comment on Defra’s Review of Producer Responsibility Schemes, supporting in general its objectives, however, it has highlighted a number of areas of concern and seeks further discussion and clarification. Read more
Metal Packaging Europe asks for stronger commitments regarding the verification of recycling data. Read more
The Aluminium industry gathered in Birmingham to celebrate the creative talents of six young designers, winners in the first Alu D&T Challenge competition for 11 to 14 year olds. Read more
MetalMatters, the metal packaging industry’s kerbside recycling improvement programme, has followed up its initial promise and delivered unprecedented success in 2012. The programme has reached 1.9 million households across 31 local authorities and significantly increased the metals capture rate in each campaign. Read more
The metal packaging industry has launched its landmark MetalMatters recycling programme to households across South London, in a move to boost collection levels for metal packaging at kerbsides in the capital.
l-r: Rick Hindley, Alupro; Mike Stafford, Viridor; Cllr Derek Osborne, SLWP Chair and Rachel Lewis, Chair, SLWP Management Group
The innovative six-week campaign is the first of its kind to launch in London, and will involve two leaflet drops delivered to all 365,000 households across the four Boroughs in the South London Waste Partnership – Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton.
This will be supported with outdoor advertising on buses, trams and collection vehicles to remind people that all metal packaging can be recycled and reused endlessly. The campaign will be supported by local activities organised by each of the Boroughs.
The South London campaign is being jointly funded by MetalMatters, an industry partnership comprising the UK’s leading producers, users and recyclers of metal packaging, Recycle for London and recycling company Viridor. This is the first campaign to receive a direct financial contribution from a waste management contractor.
Councillor Derek Osbourne, Chair of the South London Waste Partnership Joint Committee, said: “This is the first time that the MetalMatters programme has been implemented in London. The campaign shows our commitment to increasing recycling rates and keeping valuable recyclables away from landfill sites.
“People in South London are keen to do their bit for the environment, and the campaign is a great way for us to encourage them to recycle household items such as food and drink cans and aerosols more often.”
Viridor’s Regional Manager, Mike Stafford, said: “I am delighted that Viridor is able to support the MetalMatters campaign. Supporting initiatives like this is at the core of our business and I look forward to seeing more metal packaging arriving at our facilities for recycling in the months to come.”
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of MetalMatters project managers Alupro, said: “The South London campaign is a great way to kick-off MetalMatters in 2013. We are delighted to be working with Recycle for London, and that Viridor have agreed to come on board and make a significant financial contribution to the campaign; it makes it a true partnership programme. We are looking forward to seeing the impact the MetalMatters campaign has on metal packaging capture rates.”
This is the first MetalMatters campaign to launch in 2013 and follows five other projects that ran around the UK in 2012. Over 2 million households have now been reached by the programme since Alupro was charged with project management by founding partners BCME, Novelis Recycling and Tata Steel in 2011
ENDS
For further information contact:
Laura O’Meara at Citypress on 0121 314 4195 / laura.omeara@citypress.co.uk
Drinks can recycling programme Every Can Counts launched in Scotland today (26th November) to help businesses make sure recycling is in the can.
In Scotland, an estimated 252 million drinks cans are consumed per year outside the home, either ‘on the go’ or by employees in the workplace . Every Can Counts estimates that an organisation of 50 employees could recycle 3,000 drinks cans per year by making recycling part of their everyday routine2.
Every Can Counts has been developed by the drinks can manufacturing and recycling industry. Its launch in Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government’s delivery partner, Zero Waste Scotland, and A.G. Barr. It marks a three-year commitment to drive up recycling rates within the workplace.
The organisations have joined forces with Every Can Counts to spearhead workplace recycling ahead of the new Waste (Scotland) Regulations which come into force in January 2014 and will require all businesses to separate paper and card, plastic, metal and glass for recycling.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “Making one drinks can from raw materials uses the same amount of energy as it takes to make 20 cans through recycling. Recycling cans gives our economy a boost through access to a good supply of metal; recycling waste is generally cheaper for organisations than sending it to landfill, which also helps to tackle climate change.
“Recycling at work and while we are on the go will help to meet Scotland’s ambitions targets to recycle 70 per cent of all waste by 2025. To support this, the Waste (Scotland) Regulations require all businesses to separate dry materials by January 2014.”
Andrew McFarlan, Programme Manager Scotland, Every Can Counts said; “It makes good business sense for workplaces to get in the habit of drinks can recycling. With the launch of this new partnership in Scotland it’s now easier than ever to provide employees with facilities such as recycling bins, posters and leaflets to recycle. It also allows businesses to bolster their environmental credentials and demonstrate a clear commitment to reducing waste. With Every Can Counts businesses can be up and running within five days – it’s that simple.”
Jonathan Kemp, Commercial Director, A.G. Barr said: “Recycling and re-using packaging have always been important issues at A.G.Barr and we are committed to doing what we can to encourage everyone to dispose of products and packaging responsibly. We are supporting Every Can Counts because we share their aims of reducing waste and re-using and recycling more. The Every Can Counts scheme makes it simple and easy for people to recycle more drinks cans at work and whilst on the go. It will also help contribute towards achieving the Scottish Government’s national recycling target.”
Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, added: “Ensuring businesses are informed about the new regulatory requirements for recycling, and ready to comply and reap the associated benefits, is a key focus for us next year. We will be actively engaging with businesses across the country, and providing a variety of support and guidance, to do this.
“We already work with local authorities to help them drive up householder recycling rates, using tools including Recycle for Scotland – a brand which, like Every Can Counts, has galvanised support from UK retailers. We will be rolling this out in Scottish workplaces too, and Every Can Counts is a perfect complement to that. Increasing our can recycling rates holds both environmental and economic benefits, and it’s fantastic to see the recycling industry driving this forward with our support.”
Every Can Counts helps employers with setting up and promoting drinks can recycling within their organisation and is designed to complement existing recycling facilities or as a stand-alone scheme.
Since launching in the UK three years ago, the programme has so far helped businesses save over 75 million drink cans (1138 tonnes of aluminium and steel)3 for recycling and avoiding 8,529 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions4.
As an added incentive Every Can Counts are offering the first 100 businesses to sign up to the programme in Scotland a free starter pack, advice and resources to introduce and promote recycling facilities to their workplaces.
