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Aluminium Sector
62% of aluminium cans recycled at a value of nearly $10 million.
440 tonnes more aluminium packaging was recovered over the previous year at a market value of approximately $2300 per tonne, taking recycling from 61% to 62%.
To address concerns about the robustness of the aluminium mass balance data, the Packaging Council worked closely with the two principal can manufacturers (Amcor Beverage & Aerosol Cans and Visy Beverage); the main alcohol and soft drinks companies who fill aluminium cans; and, to complete the loop, the scrap metal brokers and exporters who process the recovered aluminium.
From this research it is evident that there has been a huge growth in the indirect exports of slim-line 250ml and 300ml cans filled in New Zealand and exported to Australia. This growth was under-estimated last year with the result that last year's data overstated our New Zealand consumption of aluminium beverage containers.
The consumption of aluminium packaging increased by 10%, largely due to the inclusion of aerosol cans which had not previously been included. As part of the drive towards continuous improvement in data collation, numbers now include consumption as well as recovery of aerosol cans.
Once the contents are consumed the packaging is recovered at kerbside and drop-off collection points; sorted by recycling operators and pressed into small bale-size briquettes; and on-sold to the end user to make new cans. Recycling one tonne of aluminium cans means that four tonnes of bauxite do not need to be mined and re-smelting saves up to 95% of the energy needed to produce the raw material. Most of New Zealand's recovered aluminium is currently exported overseas mainly to Australia where there are lucrative markets for the material.
With a more rigorous methodology for mass balance data in place, the challenge remains to encourage households to recycle more aluminium cans and aerosols. The Accord has enabled cooperation between brand owners, packaging manufacturers, local authorities and recycling operators to increase collection and recycling of aluminium packaging and it is anticipated that the Accord target of 65% will be met or exceeded by Year Five.
Click here to view the 2007 Annual Report [663KB pdf].
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