ALUPRO LAUNCHES AEROSOL RECYCLING INITIATIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Alupro, the aluminum packaging recycling organization, launched a new campaign to boost aerosol recycling in the UK. This new initiative will not only help improve support for recycling in the country, but will also drive higher reuse rates among UK consumers.

That proposal brought together working group partners from across the value chain, including Ball Aerosol Packaging, the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA), Ecosurety, a packaging compliance scheme, The Metals Processing Institute, Suez Recycling and Recovery UK and Tandom Metallurgical Group, processors of recovered aluminum.

The objective of this project is none other than to ensure the recyclability and viability of metal aerosols in an international scenario where a post-extension producer responsibility (EPR) and post-deposit return system (DRS) scenario stands out. Metal is recycled forever, so steel or aluminum in metal sprays can be recycled without limit, without any loss of quality.

The cross-sector initiative will follow a three-phase approach to educate consumers on best recycling practices, establish a benchmark recycling rate and a roadmap for achieving higher future rates for aerosol recycling in the UK, as well as securing substantial long-term investment in recycling infrastructure. The program will help ensure that aerosols become a central part of recycling behavior.

Finally, it should be noted that Alupro is working in partnership with independent environmental consultancy Resource Futures which undertook sampling work to establish knowledge of where the most effective aerosol recycling rate is in the UK. The results showed that despite 95% of councils offering curbside recycling of aerosols, only 46% of aerosols were recycled correctly.

‘The Lonely Aerosol’, a campaign that appeals to the collective sense of humanity, was also launched earlier this year to collaborate with the urgent need to clean up our planet. The pilot campaign reached a high volume of consumers, with nearly one million people viewing the animations at least twice.

Going forward, the project will create a roadmap to form a strategic approach towards achieving higher aerosol recycling rates in the UK, including the development of new resources for consumers.

Predrag Ozmo, head of sustainability at Ball Aerosol Packaging, commented: “We are proud to have joined the UK Aerosol Recycling Initiative in partnership with Alupro. The program will provide a unique platform from which consumer behavioral changes and infrastructure improvements can be made.”

“The project is instrumental in driving further improvements in recycling, addressing both consumer awareness and the role of government agencies and industry. As a society, we have woken up to the fact that the old linear economic model no longer works. The urgency and benefits of moving towards a circular economy are clear.”He added that “it is not enough for products to be recyclable, they must be physically recycled in the real world. e “true circularity involves the continuous recovery and reuse of materials, with nothing lost during the full circle. It is not enough for products to be recyclable, they must be physically recycled in the real world”.

Finally, Tom Giddings, Alupro’s executive director, added that aerosols have been at the top of the annual recycling list for years. We as an industry are looking to exceed a 50% rate by 2030. This is a very important objective for us, so this initiative is very critical for our future.