Foil Recycling Spreads Across Notts

23 August 2011

A new partnership initiative between the metals industry's Aerofoil programme and materials recycler Recresco has brought foil recycling to three councils in Nottinghamshire, giving residents access to foil recycling for the first time

In a six month trial nine metal packaging recycling banks have been installed at sites across Mansfield and Ashfield, and four more are to be added in Broxtowe in September.

The banks collect foil trays and used sheet foil together with metal food and drink cans. If successful the partners hope that the banks will become a permanent feature of the local recycling system.

Fraser Macintyre, national sales manager, Recresco said: "We're very excited to be part of this trial offering recycling banks across these districts. Metal packaging can be recycled endlessly without losing quality so it makes sense to collect cans and foil together.

"The recycling banks make it even easier for residents to recycle all their metal packaging - not just cans as was the case in the past. We hope the recycling banks will be a success and continue well passed the end of the trial period."

Rick Hindley, executive director from Alupro, said:"Aerofoil has been helping local authorities to add clean foil and aerosols to their existing can recycling services by providing information and materials to set up and promote the service to residents. In Nottinghamshire we are seeing the initiative made available at supermarkets and recycling centres thanks to support from Recresco.

"We use 3bn foil containers in the UK every year - that's about 182 per household. The metal can be endlessly recycled, so we are obviously keen to encourage people to recycle whenever and wherever they can."

The Aerofoil campaign is backed by Unilever and the major aluminium foil container manufacturers Coppice Alupack, i2r Packaging Solutions, Jena and Nicholl Food Packaging. Other partners include the British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association (BAMA) and steel packaging recycler Tata Steel. As a result of the programme 78% of households collect aerosols at the kerbside and 66% collect aluminium foil packaging. Currently, 98% of local authorities collect drinks cans.

More information on aerosol and foil recycling is available at www.aerofoil.org.uk. Further information about aluminium packaging recycling is also available at www.alupro.org.uk.

Darrel Moore