Beverage carton collection coverage at 66% in the UK

United Kingdom – The proportion of UK local authorities making kerbside collections of beverage cartons for recycling has hit 66%, according to figures released by the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE UK).

This milestone represents a more than 16-fold increase over 2006 levels when just 4% of local authorities collected cartons at the kerbside. This sharp uptrend is said to be the result of ‘sustained, close co-operation’ between ACE UK, local authorities and consumer groups.

Including ACE UK’s own bring-back system, 92% of UK local authorities now collect cartons for recycling.

The UK’s only dedicated beverage carton recycling facility is in West Yorkshire and is a joint venture between ACE UK and Sonoco Alcore. Annually, the plant can process 25 000 tonnes of cartons sorted from household and commercial waste streams.

‘It is great news that South Hams District Council is now collecting beverage cartons at the kerbside, taking us to the 66% milestone, which represents two in every three households in the UK,’ comments Richard Hands, chief executive of ACE UK. ‘Our members – Tetra Pak, Elopak and SIG Combibloc – are extremely pleased that their strategy to increase kerbside collection and make it easier for residents to recycle cartons is paying dividends.’

ACE UK has created an interactive map on its website to help residents find out where and how they can recycle beverage cartons in their area.