UK achieves impressive 68% aluminium packaging recycling rate

UK – The UK’s aluminium packaging recycling rate surged to an impressive 68% in 2023, according to data published by the Environment Agency on the National Packaging Waste Database.

During the year, 162,357 tonnes of aluminium packaging were recycled across the country, with beverage cans leading the way with an 81% recycling rate. This growth reflects a robust increase in the domestic market for aluminium packaging.

Tom Giddings, executive director of the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organization (Alupro), expressed his satisfaction with the record-breaking recycling volumes for 2023.

“I’m delighted to announce record-breaking recycling volumes for 2023. While more aluminium packaging was placed on the domestic market than last year, it’s pleasing that recycling rates have more than kept up with the pace,” he said.

Giddings highlighted the industry’s long-term investment in optimizing collection and recycling infrastructure over the past twenty years, which yielded significant results despite ongoing delays and uncertainty surrounding proposed changes to national recycling legislation.

Alupro, an industry-funded nonprofit representing the UK’s aluminium packaging industry, noted a 13% increase in collections through kerbside, bring, and on-the-go systems, reaching 115,382 tonnes in 2023, compared to 102,195 tonnes the previous year.

Additionally, the tonnage of aluminium recovered from incinerator bottom ash rose by 17% to 45,632 tonnes, up from 38,982 tonnes in the preceding year.

Giddings remarked, “Aluminium is quickly becoming a material of choice for many brands, hence the growth of the domestic market. Besides boasting a wide range of benefits for packaging applications, it’s a safe material to work with from a sustainability perspective.”

This recycling rate is like 2021, when the country recycled over 156,000 metric tonnes, marking a 3% year-on-year increase.

More than four in five beverage cans were recycled last year (82%), matching the previous record set in 2020.

Despite a growing domestic market, aluminium packaging collected through kerbside, bring, and on-the-go systems increased by 5% to 112,210 tonnes. In comparison, tonnage recovered from incinerator bottom ash grew by 2% to 41,941 tonnes.

More than 88% of the total volume was recycled within the UK and EU, with just 12% being exported for further reprocessing.

“It’s pleasing news to report yet another record-breaking year for aluminium packaging recycling. While the total UK market size grew, recycling rates kept pace.”

“More importantly, the vast majority of the material was collected through kerbside, bring, and on-the-go systems, which maximized the potential for closed-loop recycling,” Giddings said.

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