BEVERAGE RECYCLING RATE IN SPAIN REACHED 72% IN 2021

Seventy-two percent of beverage cans were reused through the recycling process by 2021, and that number increased to 67% for aluminum cans, according to the Beverage Can Association. These data show that Spanish society is becoming increasingly involved in environmental issues and that costs are being reduced as a result of the reuse of primary materials.

Reusing the metal so that the same amount of products can continue to be produced saves 95 percent of the time that would be required without this process. The ALB has published the results of the recycling rate calculation to harmonize results with the European Union. The association is satisfied with the results”, since there is a 5.3% increase in the consumption of canned beverages and sales are higher than before.

On the other hand, the increase in citizen awareness and commitment has been reflected in the correct classification of waste, with a 17% increase in the tonnage of cans recovered through selective collection, both from the yellow container and from private collection.

According to the sociological study for Ecoembes in 2021, 82.9% of respondents said they had several bins at home to separate waste and 57.2% said they always put beverage cans in the yellow garbage can.

ALB also highlights the efforts of municipalities and Ecoembes to rescue some of the aluminum containers that have been improperly deposited in the rest container to prevent them from being lost in the landfill, which has also resulted in a “considerable increase” in their recovery by non-selective means. These data confirm that this container is positioning itself as one of the favorites of Spaniards, as can be seen in the strong increase in its consumption over the last few years. Spaniards are increasingly aware of how their actions impact the environment, opting for more sustainable packaging and actively participating in its recycling.