The Environment Agency has released packaging waste recovery figures showing that reported aluminium packaging recycling recorded its highest ever quarterly performance in Quarter 3 (Q3 of 2014/15), at 23,330 tonnes.
The news follows an adjustment to the accreditation process for packaging recovery notes (PRNs), following concerns that the true amount of aluminium was not reflected in PRN data for Q1 and Q2, as official recovery data showed low levels of reporting.
Historic problems with low levels of reporting
Earlier this year, the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), moreover, sought to determine the ‘real aluminium recycling figure’ this summer, saying that the PRN system was not fit for purpose, as it requires voluntary accreditation by reprocessors and exporters, a ‘significant number’ of which have not maintained their accreditation due to the process being ‘too onerous’ and low value.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) then took steps to improve compliance, encouraging unaccredited reprocessors and exporters to become accredited.
The Q3 results are the direct result of adjustments made to the accreditation process, following lower than expected tonnages in Q1 and Q2, and increasing volumes of aluminium packaging recovered from incinerator bottom ash (IBA) being reported through the system. An estimated 18,800 tonnes is required in the final quarter to achieve the 2015 recycling target.
Streamlining accreditation ‘has had an immediate effect’
Commenting on the latest figures, Rick Hindley, Executive Director of the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) said: “Alupro has consistently advocated streamlining the reprocessor/exporter accreditation process, and these changes have had an immediate effect. With more reprocessors coming on stream we are increasingly confident that aluminium will not only achieve the 2015 recycling target, but also that in future the figures will be a more accurate picture of the amount of aluminium packaging recycled in the UK or exported for recycling. We are very pleased to see that new reprocessors are becoming accredited to the system and are grateful to Defra and the national environment agencies for working to bring about these changes.
“We knew that 2015 would be a period of adjustment following changes to the aluminium protocols which came into effect in January. This is the first set of data since further revisions were introduced to the protocol which allows PRNs to be issued on 70 per cent of the non-ferrous material recovered from incinerator bottom ash. We are increasingly confident that the 2015 recycling target will now be met.”
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