Waste Management reported that over 70% of aluminium drink cans sold and consumed in Ireland in 2017 were collected for recycling, according to Repak, Ireland’s only government-approved packaging recycling scheme. The latest figures showed that some 7297 tonnes of aluminium drinks cans were collected for recycling last year, the highest rate of aluminium can recycling since Repak began recording data in 2006. Repak said that the data, provided to it by both its own members and registered packaging collectors and recyclers, showed that overall tonnage of aluminium packaging collected for recycling in 2017 has grown by over 50% compared to 2016’s 4728 tonnes.
The news comes as Alupro Ireland, the not-for-profit company who develop and run the programme Every Can Counts, received a finalist nomination at the prestigious Pakman Awards, a national recycling awards powered by Repak. The awards will be held in the Intercontinental Hotel on October 25 th, with Alupro Ireland nominated in the Environmental Education and Awareness Initiative category.
Last year saw the relaunch of the Every Can Counts’ drinks can recycling programme in Ireland. The programme, managed by Alupro Ireland and funded by the aluminium suppliers, drinks can manufacturers and Repak, enables people to recycle drink cans when outside the home.
The program is currently working in partnership with Ireland’s major music festivals to encourage festival goers to recycle the high volume of cans consumed at the events. Every Can Counts is a unique partnership between the can makers and the recycling industry.
They have come together to establish a successful ‚on the go‘ recycling programme across Ireland. Every Can Counts has increased can recycling points across the country in sports clubs, tourist attractions, hospitals, universities, and organisations of all kinds.
The program went on tour this summer and was found at all the major festivals rewarding positive recycling behaviour, providing additional can recycling facilities, and passing on a message that lives long beyond any festival.
