World’s steel packaging recycling on the rise

Archiv – The steel can remains the world’s most recycled packaging material, according to data gathered by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI). In 2006, 6.6 million tonnes of steel cans were recycled, across the 35 countries represented in the data collection.Belgium | The steel can remains the world’s most recycled packaging material, according to data gathered by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI). In 2006, 6.6 million tonnes of steel cans were recycled, across the 35 countries represented in the data collection. According to the Brussels, Belgium based institute, this prevented approximately 11.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the environment.
IISI collects data on the world steel can recycling rate every year. This year, for the first time, recycling figures for Brazil, Turkey and China were reported. The overall packaging recycling rate was 67% in 2006, an increase from 64.9% in 2005.
China recycled an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of steel cans in 2006. In the US, 1.3 million tonnes of post-consumer steel cans were recovered for recycling. Japan recovered 645 730 tonnes of post-consumer food and beverage cans, and recycled a total of 720,600 tonnes of packaging steel. The 27 member countries of the European Union recycled 2.5 million tonnes in the same year.
Julie Renner, Chairwoman of IISI’s Committee on Packaging said, ’The data from our members shows a continued high recycling rate for steel cans in many countries. In real terms, the tonnages of steel from packaging being recycled in individual countries are also steadily increasing’.
To calculate the global recycling rate, IISI collects data from its members. The institute puts the data into perspective, saying that each country uses different criteria when preparing its statistics and the reported figures may refer to differing stages of packaging production and recycling.