New aluminium can record: more than 72% recycled in Europe

Europe – The overall recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in Europe increased by 1.6% to a new record level of 72.9% in 2014, according to new data by European Aluminium. This growth is an ‘important milestone’ on the path towards the EU’s mandatory 75% aluminium recycling target for 2025.

Almost 30 billion cans have been recycled across the entire European continent, so the group says. ‘This means that every second an aluminium beverage can is being recycled somewhere in Europe!’ it adds.

Although not all European countries report official recycling figures to Eurostat, it can be extrapolated that all citizens together recycle more than 60% of their used aluminium packaging.

‘While we support the ambitious 75% target for aluminium packaging we strongly recommend that local authorities together with the waste management chain invest more in innovative sorting technologies,’ comments Maarten Labberton, director of the European Aluminium’s Packaging Group.

And he goes on to state: ‘Fortunately, these investments will pay off quickly, due to the relatively high scrap value of aluminium.’

Labberton highlighted the success of the group’s awareness programme “Every Can Counts”. This year, Poland and the Benelux countries joined the scheme, with more expected to join in the near future.