Aluminium

Our aluminium recycling banks are provided for public use for the collection of aluminium drinks cans, aerosols and clean foil. These banks are serviced our Recycling Vehicle Operator. Pubs, hotels and restaurants can also recycle their empty aluminium cans free of charge, via private recycling schemes.

All the aluminium that the DLGE collects is taken to a company in Union Mills called Island Can Recycling (Tel: 304008) where the cans are sorted and baled. The bales are then shipped to Novelis which is an aluminium recycling plant in Warrington, Cheshire and the aluminium can be back on our shelves within 6 short weeks!

Table 1 - Public aluminium recycled (tonnes)

Month	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
January	1.42	1.74	1.86	2.21	2.10
February	1.57	1.41	1.42	1.67	1.74
March	1.82	1.52	1.10	1.49	1.56
April	1.47	1.62	1.36	1.69	2.28
May	2.17	1.95	1.77	2.28	1.99
June	1.93	1.73	1.73	2.12	2.20
July	1.77	1.74	2.26	2.07	2.56
August	2.08	2.01	1.73	2.13	2.27
September	1.61	1.64	1.67	1.82	TBC
October	1.43	1.86	1.73	2.12	TBC
November	1.91	1.28	1.46	1.54	TBC
December	1.65	1.55	2.12	1.86	TBC
Annual Total	20.83	20.05	20.21	23.00	TBC
Current running total	-	-	-	-	16.70
Running total (same peried previous year)	-	-	-	-	15.66
Current running total compared to previous year	-	-	-	-	+6.64%

Aluminium recycling tonnages have remained fairly constant between 2004 and 2006, rather than increasing in tonnage, as has been observed for glass & paper. One of the main reasons for this is due to DLGE's cessation of aluminium can collections from 'commercial' premises (e.g. pubs and hotels) in 2005. However, In advance of this cessation, all pubs and hotels were contacted by the DLGE and given alternative, cost-free aluminium recycling options, in order that an uninterrupted aluminium recycling service could be maintained at their premises. One of the main benefits of the DLGE's recyling vehicle stopping these collections, is that it has given us additional operational capacity and vehicle driver time, which we have been able to utilise to collect more paper, glass and cans from public recycling sites and schools.

This year, it is encouraging to note that Aluminium recycling via public recycling sites has increased by more than 6% to the end of August compared to the same period in 2007.