Metal packaging recycling hits 74.7% record
Metal Packaging Europe reports that in 2013 over 3 million tonnes of steel packaging and aluminium beverage cans were recycled, bringing the recycling rate of rigid metal packaging to a new record of 74.7%.
The extra recycled tonnage in 2013 equals an increase of 1.1% points over 2012. In 2013, aluminium beverage cans were recycled at a rate of 71.3% and steel packaging was recycled at a rate of 75.2%. As in the previous three years, the original data provided by the packaging group of European Aluminium and Apeal has been reviewed by the independent consultancy Eunomia. This still makes the metal packaging industry the only packaging industry which ensures a third party verification of its recycling figures.
With this increase, the metal packaging sector continues to improve its recycling rates, over and above the minimum European and national metal recycling rates, and is well on track to reach the industry’s voluntary objective of 80% recycling of metal packaging in Europe by 2020.
Peter Lockley, chairman of Metal Packaging Europe, said: “The ‘metal forever’ story is a perfect example of the circular economy at work. In order to move towards a true resource efficient Recycling Society, it is key that we make a clear distinction between recycling which leads to the gradual degradation of the material and recycling which keeps the material in the loop without losing its intrinsic material characteristics.”
