 |
 |
Recycling of steel packaging in Europe in 1999
|
An increasing number of countries are sorting and recycling steel packaging – considerable progress in southern Europe and Scandinavia.
Since the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (Dir. 94/62/EC), most Member States have been quick to act in implementing infrastructures for the collection and sorting of packaging for recycling.
As regards steel packaging, the collection and sorting systems which existed prior to the Directive (integral refuse collection followed by magnetic extraction at incinerators) enabled Northern Europe to reach figures in the range of 30% to 50% (eg. in Germany and the Netherlands) and this recovery system accounts for almost half the quantity of recycled steel packaging in Europe. Furthermore, where kerbside multi-material collection is established, magnetic separation of steel packaging in sorting centres complements these systems and allows national recycling targets to be met.
Last year saw a marked increase in the levels of steel for packaging recycled in most EU countries.
There are still significant disparities at a national level according to the local collection infrastructures which are in place, with Germany (80%), the Netherlands (78%), and Austria (75%) at the top of the list, followed by Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Sweden with figures between 62% and 70%. Next come France (47%) and Spain (32%). In the UK, there was a significant increase from 25% in 1998 to 30% in 1999.
Italy, with recycling at almost 10%, has published plans to implement gradually its infrastructure for the collection and sorting of household packaging to reach 50% by the year 2002.
Portugal expects to exceed the minimum level for steel packaging recycling (15%) by the end of this year. Ireland is implementing a collection and sorting system for steel and aluminium, which should be in operation during 2001.
Finland recycles 16% of its metal packaging. Denmark enjoys a vast network of incinerators all over the country, contributing to the collection and sorting of steel packaging, however the exact amounts cannot be quantified.
Sweden, with its impressive network of waste incinerators, should see its steel recycling figure increase considerably by the year 2001 once it starts to include steel packaging separated magnetically in incinerators - currently not counted in the attainment of the Swedish recycling targets.
In Norway, a voluntary multi-material collection system set up in 1999 has led to 54% metal packaging recycling in just one year.
In Luxembourg, the installation of a magnetic extraction system for steel packaging in the incinerator at Leudelange, has had a major influence in achieving a national figure for metal recycling of almost 70%.
Since the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (Dir. 94/62/EC), most Member States have been quick to act in implementing infrastructures for the collection and sorting of packaging for recycling.
As regards steel packaging, the collection and sorting systems which existed prior to the Directive (integral refuse collection followed by magnetic extraction at incinerators) enabled Northern Europe to reach figures in the range of 30% to 50% (eg. in Germany and the Netherlands) and this recovery system accounts for almost half the quantity of recycled steel packaging in Europe. Furthermore, where kerbside multi-material collection is established, magnetic separation of steel packaging in sorting centres complements these systems and allows national recycling targets to be met.
Last year saw a marked increase in the levels of steel for packaging recycled in most EU countries.
There are still significant disparities at a national level according to the local collection infrastructures which are in place, with Germany (80%), the Netherlands (78%), and Austria (75%) at the top of the list, followed by Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Sweden with figures between 62% and 70%. Next come France (47%) and Spain (32%). In the UK, there was a significant increase from 25% in 1998 to 30% in 1999.
Italy, with recycling at almost 10%, has published plans to implement gradually its infrastructure for the collection and sorting of household packaging to reach 50% by the year 2002.
Portugal expects to exceed the minimum level for steel packaging recycling (15%) by the end of this year. Ireland is implementing a collection and sorting system for steel and aluminium, which should be in operation during 2001.
Finland recycles 16% of its metal packaging. Denmark enjoys a vast network of incinerators all over the country, contributing to the collection and sorting of steel packaging, however the exact amounts cannot be quantified.
Sweden, with its impressive network of waste incinerators, should see its steel recycling figure increase considerably by the year 2001 once it starts to include steel packaging separated magnetically in incinerators - currently not counted in the attainment of the Swedish recycling targets.
In Norway, a voluntary multi-material collection system set up in 1999 has led to 54% metal packaging recycling in just one year.
In Luxembourg, the installation of a magnetic extraction system for steel packaging in the incinerator at Leudelange, has had a major influence in achieving a national figure for metal recycling of almost 70%.
"Steel packaging recycling in Europe reached 47% in 1999. Large variations exist and will continue to exist at national level. However, it is encouraging to note that countries where the collection infrastructure was not very developed are making considerable progress in achieving the 15% minimum levels required by July 2001 by the European Directive",
says Jean-Pierre Taverne, Recycling and Standardisation Manager at APEAL.
At an international level, in North America, steel packaging recycling figures reached 58% and more than 80% in Japan.
says Jean-Pierre Taverne, Recycling and Standardisation Manager at APEAL.
At an international level, in North America, steel packaging recycling figures reached 58% and more than 80% in Japan.
Back