Industry body Alupro is optimistic that annual recycling targets for aluminium can be hit despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
The sector was boosted by Environment Agency data that showed 17,066 tonnes of aluminium packaging was collected during May. This is was a 48% increased compared to the same period last year.
Over the past three months, 38,014 tonnes of aluminium packaging were collected for recycling nationwide. In the same period in 2019, the figure was 25,986 tonnes.
Alupro executive director Rick Hindley said: “The UK’s PRN data for May shows a dramatic increase, both month-on-month and year-on-year, in aluminium packaging recycling rates. Alongside greater public awareness about the benefits of recycling and an increase in the number of companies – including incinerator bottom ash processors – accredited for reprocessing, impressive rates can be attributed to the Covid-19 lockdown and resulting increase in household recycling volumes.
“With PRNs already raised for more than 57,000 tonnes of aluminium packaging in 2020, the future looks hugely optimistic. If recycling rates continue to remain high and local authority collections continue to operate as normal, I am confident that we will once again surpass annual targets.”
