A new campaign has been launched that is encouraging the public to leave the aluminium screw cap on glass bottles to enable it to be recycled.
Launched by Alupro, in partnership with British Glass and the European Aluminium Foil Association, the campaign is a new recycling communications initiative for local authorities to increase the recovery of aluminium caps and closures for recycling.
It encourages recyclers to screw the caps back on their bottles before recycling as the metal can be successfully extracted during the glass recycling process.
Following research by Alupro into the UK closure market via both its members and British Glass, it was discovered that approximately 5,000 tonnes of aluminium caps and closures could be recovered.
At today’s prices for aluminium, this would mean £2 million worth of aluminium could be diverted from landfill.
Alupro executive director Rick Hindley said: “The market for aluminium bottle closures is growing rapidly, particularly for wine bottles, so it is important that the consumer gets in the habit of recycling them so that the aluminium can be captured for reprocessing.
“The message to the public is simple. Screwing the top back on the empty bottle before recycling is the easiest way for people to do their bit to recycle this valuable material.”
Bottles for wine, spirits and olive oil that have aluminium caps are being targeted for the campaign. Sevenoaks District Council is the first local authority to trial the campaign with Dartford, Portsmouth and Bedford also taking part.
