Aerofoil Achieves Foil And Aerosol Recycling Targets
5 October 2011
Alupro has revealed that more than 5.8m households are benefiting from better recycling services as a direct result of its Aerofoil programme, but says work must continue to improve understanding of recycling
In total, 83 percent of local authorities are now collecting aerosols, an increase of 16 percent, while 72 percent are now collecting foil, an increase of 14 percent compared to 2009.
The news comes as the scheme, which helped local authorities to add foil and aerosols to their collections and to promote recycling services, reaches its second anniversary. Since its launch in 2009, 98 local authorities covering 5.8m households have expanded their collection systems to include foil, aerosols or both materials.
One of the major achievements of the Aerofoil programme has been to expand the kerbside collection infrastructure for aluminium foil trays, enabling it to qualify for the "Widely Recycled at Recycling Points" labelling under the British Retail Consortium's On-Pack Recycling Label scheme.
To qualify, 65 percent of local authorities must collect the material with kerbside or "bring" systems (minimum five collection banks per local authority). The criteria will increase to 70 percent in 2012 and 75 percent in 2013 - targets which, thanks to Aerofoil, the sector is already well on the way to achieving.
Alupro executive director Rick Hindley, said: "We set out to help 80 local authorities add aerosols and foil to their services. In fact 98 authorities have now changed their kerbside programme to include either, or both material as a result of this programme.
"Our communications materials have been downloaded by over 140 different users. We see it as a great success and an excellent example of how partners within the industry can facilitate extended producer responsibility, supporting the public sector to make a real difference."
Raising Awareness
Research carried out by GfK NOP (National Opinion Polls) at the start and end of the Aerofoil programme shows that awareness of the recyclability of foil and aerosols is rising, with 53 percent of respondents knowing that aerosols are recyclable (compared to 45 percent in 2009), and 75 percent knowing that foil trays are recyclable (compared to 70 percent in 2009).
In areas currently not served by a kerbside service for either material there was a strong willingness to be able to recycle both - 89 percent for aerosols and 90 percent for foil. However Alupro believes the results show that much work remains to be done to keep reminding householders about what they can recycle, and why.
Rick Hindley added: "It is vital that local authorities continue to communicate with households and promote their recycling services, and the Aerofoil 'model' shows that offering template materials provides a cost-effective way of running communications programmes when budgets are tight.
"Regular, clear communication is essential to remind and reinforce awareness. This will not only increase participation and capture rates, but will bring about long-term behaviour change. This is an area that the metal packaging industry is already actively engaged in, and will continue to focus on in future activities."
Darrel Moore
