The recovery of used aluminium packaging for recycling in the UK continued to rise in the third quarter of 2023 with an increase of more than a fifth compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the Environment Agency.

The National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) reported that in the three months to the end of September 48,135 tonnes of aluminium packaging was collected for recycling in the UK — a 21% year-on-year (y/y) increase. Breaking down this figure, consumers recycled 33,051 tonnes through kerbside, bring and on-the-go systems, and 12,950 tonnes was recovered from incinerator bottom ash — y/y rises of 15% and 19%, respectively.

In June 2023, The Canmaker reported rising rates of collection in the first quarter. In the first nine months of 2023, 137,275 tonnes of aluminium packaging was recovered compared with 116,439 tonnes in the same period in 2022, an increase of 17%.

According to UK government guidelines, the annual target for packaging producers is 147,925 tonnes, so the figures show that 92% of the obligation had already been met in nine months.

Tom Giddings, executive director of industry recycling organisation Alupro, said the data showed the high reported rates during the pandemic were not just a short-term trend. “It’s positive to see that the tonnage of aluminium packaging collected for recycling across the UK is rising steadily,” he commented.

He also welcomed the stabilisation of data in the packaging waste recycling notes (PRN), but called for “more work to be done” to prevent the PRN price from driving material flow. He added that Alupro would continue to “bang the drum” on consumer education.

“Through our awareness programmes, Every Can Counts and MetalMatters, we will continue to play a driving role in reminding households about the value of best practice recycling, while working towards our ambitious goal of a 100% recycling rate for aluminium packaging.”