In a position statement the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) has said it is “opposed to any proposals” that don’t support its sustainability ambitions.
Citing the example of Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) in Finland and the Netherlands, the organisation said “successful and long-running DRS’ like these not only tackle litter and deliver ever-higher collation rates for cans but also typically guarantee high quality feedstock to the recycling process”.
It also highlighted that cans contaminated with plastic and other undesirable materials sourced from UK kerbside co-mingled collection systems need additional sorting to remove ‘non-target’ elements.
The organisation said that while it aims to achieve 100% recycled cans by 2030 but said this could only be done through reverse vending machines or when consumers physically return cans to retailers.
The statement was against a kerbside recycling system involving QR codes and said “whilst not hindering recyclability, this adds costs and waste to the recycling process which could be avoided if those cans were collected through a conventional DRS”.
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In addition, the aluminium trade groups said that it was “yet to be demonstrated that the requirements placed on the packaging value chain by a DDRS are even feasible or sensible”.
The statement also said a digital scheme did not guarantee that containers that had their deposit redeemed would be recycled without going to a retailer or returns machine.
The news comes after the UK’s DRS scheme was delayed until 2025 following cost-of-living concerns, after retailers called for the move to be pushed back.
Meanwhile, earlier this year Scotland delayed its deposit return scheme by at least two years, after concerns about feasibility.
A Brecon-based whole town DRS trial showed widespread preference for at home recycling over reversable vending machines.
