Trials commence to measure impact of communications on aerosol recycling

As part of a pioneering initiative to improve the recycling rate of post-consumer aerosols, a three-month analysis project commenced earlier this month (2 June) to gather valuable kerbside waste composition data from households across Solihull.

Funded by Alupro through the Aerosol Recycling Initiative (UKARI) and facilitated by Suez recycling and recovery UK (SUEZ), the initiative will see fully comingled material streams analysed by Sherbourne Recycling, who operate one of the world’s most advanced material recycling facilities. Current capture, sorting and recycling volumes will be measured, with a specific focus on aerosol containers.

Once complete, a targeted communications programme will be rolled-out to households across the region, promoting best practice recycling guidance. With the specific aim of improving education and driving positive behavioural change, collection data will be closely monitored to measure the direct impact of proactive communications.

The data will be combined with insight from two further local authority trials, which are set to take place later this year. Alongside measuring the real-world impact of communications on consumer recycling behaviour, the programme aims to provide a representative picture of the UK’s residual waste composition.

Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, commented: Research suggests that householders are widely unsure about how best to recycle aerosols, sighting concerns over pressurised containers as a major factor. As a result, far fewer units are collected at the kerbside than most other forms of metal packaging. Gathering data and understanding waste composition is an important first step in tackling the issue. Thanks to our collaboration with SUEZ, we’ll be able to not only access this valuable insight, but also test the direct impact of communications initiatives on consumer recycling behaviour.

Tom Merry, Commercialisation & Innovations Manager at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK added: In a post-DRS world, new targets set to be announced under EPR legislation will require more aluminium and steel packaging (excluding beverage cans) to be collected for recycling. It’s therefore imperative that we maximise the recycling rates of aerosols, through establishing a baseline recycling rate and improving public understanding. We’re pleased to be working with Alupro to drive forward this initiative and aim to share best practice with the sector through our research findings.

Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, added: We are always looking to increase our recycling rates and make it easier for our residents to do the right thing. Thanks to our state-of-the-art recycling facility, we have successfully introduced mixed recycling and soft plastics recycling. I am hopeful that this latest initiative will help increase aerosol recycling too. I look forward to seeing the results.

Following the trials, Alupro and SUEZ will continue their partnership to build further knowledge around the challenges of sorting and analysing aerosols collected through the kerbside system, as well as to trial practical initiatives to positively impact national recycling rates.

Led by Alupro, the UK Aerosol Recycling Initiative brings together partners from across the aerosols value chain. These partners include Suez Recycling and Recovery UK, Ball Aerosol Packaging, Trivium Packaging, the British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA), packaging compliance scheme Ecosurety, consumer brand Henkel, valve manufacturer LINDAL Group, waste company CleanEco and processors of reclaimed metal Tandom Metallurgical Group Ltd and Tata Steel UK.

For more information about Alupro, visit www.alupro.org.uk. Background to the UKARI programme can be found at https://alupro.org.uk/industry/programmes/the-uk-aerosol-recycling-initiative. For more information about SUEZ, visit www.suez.co.uk. More information about Sherbourne Resource Park can be found at www.sherbournerecycling.co.uk.