UK’s aluminium packaging recycling improved in the first quarter as per data released by the Environment Agency. The recycling sector in the UK collected 35,232mt of aluminium packaging in Q1 2020, an increase of 48pc from 23,800mt in the prior year quarter, according to the environment Exchange (t2e). The sector’s performance was in line with 2020 targets until the COVID-19 crisis.
The kerbside collection of aluminium packaging went up by 33pc to 24,323mt in Q1 from 18,265mt in 2019. The collection of aluminium from residual ash in the incinerator in the quarter went up by 97pc to 10,909mt from 5,535 a year ago, according to Packaging News.
Tom Rickerby, head of The Environment Exchange (t2e) said that the market response will be subdued due to COVID-19 situation and an anticipated contraction in Packaging recovery notes (PRN) supply in Q2.
The Q1 data is not representative of the whole year, according to Rick Hindley, Executive director at Alupro. The growth in aluminium recycling is a result of an increase in the number of new companies and incinerator bottom ash (IBA) processors- accredited to issue PRNs. Hindley added that PRN prices will fall as a result of an increase in recycling rates.