Steel packaging is being recycled in ever increasing volumes and the figures are impressive: the 2 million tonne mark for recycled steel packaging was exceeded in 2002, representing an 8% growth in collected and recycled tonnage in Europe compared with the previous year.

This means that the steel packaging industry has now reached its voluntary objective of 60% that it had set itself for 2005. In terms of meeting the legal requirements, steel significantly contributes to reaching the EU recycling target for metal packaging (steel and aluminium), which the Packaging Directive has set at 50% by the year 2008.

N.B.: Denmark and Finland’s latest official packaging recycling data cover year 2001. Recycling rates are measured as a percentage of packaging put on the market

TThe country leading the field in steel packaging recycling is still Belgium (93%), followed by a group of countries in the 70-80% recycling range made up of Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and Luxembourg. Norway, with a 60% recycling rate, reaches the European average, with Italy (55%) plus Spain and Ireland (51%) chasing France (57%) in the 50%-60% category. The United Kingdom with 42% has made a 5% advance compared with 2001 and is closely followed by Finland (39%).  Portugal, at 28%, remains at the 2001 level, but has already exceeded the minimum recycling rate (15%) which it had to reach under law by the end of 2005.

At international level, only Japan and South Africa, with 86% and 63% respectively, exceed the European average.

Steel packaging holds the pole position of packaging recycling in Europe in 2002
In 2002, steel packaging, with a recycling rate of 60%, was the most recycled packaging material in Europe, followed by glass (57%).

- Plastics: Only mechanical recycling of plastics packaging waste – 2001 figures
- All figures are expressed as a % of packaging put on the market

Future prospects for steel packaging recycling in Europe
Steel, thanks to its magnetic properties, lends itself easily to automatic extraction by electromagnet in sorting centres, composting centres or in household waste incinerators. The extended geographical cover of selective collection systems in Europe, together with an increased need for waste incineration capacities as an alternative to landfill sites, has boosted the success of its recycling, with recycled quantities tripling within the space of 10 years. Limitations to growth in the recycling of steel packaging are essentially linked to the lack of collection infrastructure whilst recycling outlets are guaranteed since recycled steel is an essential ingredient in the production of new steel products. The recycling rates for steel packaging are likely to level off in the next few years, given the very high rates already reached in most European countries. Steel is synonymous with high recycling.

Steel packaging recycling contributes to sustainable use of resources
Increased recycling of steel packaging improves the material’s environmental profile and contributes towards sustainable use of resources through the saving of raw materials and the resulting energy. For example, as much as 3 million tonnes of iron ore and 1.4 million tonnes of coal did not have to be extracted in 2002 thanks to the recycling of steel packaging in Europe.

APEAL, the Association of European steel packaging producers represents more than 90% of total European steel packaging production. Among its members are: Arcelor Packaging International, Corus Packaging Plus and Rasselstein Hoesch.

For more information, please contact:

Jean-Pierre TAVERNE
Environmental and Technical Affairs Manager
Tel: +32/2/535 72 05
Fax: +32/2/537 86 49
E-mail: j.p.taverne@apeal.be - Website: http://www.apeal.org