Aerosol can link-up boosts UK collections

United Kingdom – A two-year partnership between Unilever’s deodorants team and Alupro, the UK aluminium packaging recycling organisation, has boosted the number of local authorities collecting aerosol cans from 67% to 81%, bringing kerbside collection to an additional 4 million households.All empty aerosols are recyclable but actual recycling rates vary from country to country, depending on local infrastructure and public awareness. Recycling rates in developed countries can be low owing to poor communication and perceived safety issues, it is alleged. In the UK, despite two-thirds of local authorities accepting aerosol cans, the recycling rate had been estimated at less than 20%.
Research in 2008 showed that only 39% of UK householders were aware aerosol cans can be recycled and so there has been a drive to increase public awareness, for example through advertising campaigns. A joint nationwide promotion between Unilever’s Sure deodorant and major supermarket chain Tesco resulted in a 30% increase in recycling rates in participating stores.