Aluminium beverage can recycling in Europe hits record 76.1% in 2018

(18, January 2021) In the European Union and EFTA countries 34 billion cans were recycled, or 457,000 tons of aluminium

The overall recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in the European Union, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland rose by more than 2% from 2017 (74.5%), to reach an all-time record of 76.1% in 2018. The total amount of aluminium recycled increased by 37,000 tonnes to an impressive 457,000 tonnes, representing a total GHG emissions saving of 3.7 million tonnes of CO₂ eq..

Can manufacturers (members of Metal Packaging Europe) and their aluminium suppliers (members of European Aluminium) are very pleased with the new result and believe that can recycling rates can be further improved, providing that separate packaging collection systems (‘yellow’ or ‘blue’ bags and bins) in Europe are further optimised and are complemented by modern and balanced deposit return schemes for beverage cans and other relevant beverage containers. These schemes can be very helpful in moving beverage can recycling levels towards 90% or more.

For more information please refer to the press release of European Aluminium and Metal Packaging Europe.