Suez UK and Alupro, the aluminium packaging recycling organisation, have joined forces in a two-year partnership to significantly boost aerosol recycling rates across the UK.

This initiative comes as the domestic aluminium packaging sector gears up for stricter recycling targets under upcoming policy reforms.

The UK reportedly consumes an estimated 650 million metal aerosols annually, with most for household use.

While the UK's overall aluminium packaging recycling rate reached a commendable 68% in 2023, significant room for improvement remains in aerosol recycling.

The partnership aims to unlock this potential by providing valuable data and practical solutions to improve aerosol capture, sorting, and reprocessing.

The project will be rolled out in two phases.

First phase: Data gathering and analysis (12 months)

Three local authorities from diverse regions will be recruited to monitor and analyse current aerosol capture rates within their kerbside collections.

Second phase: Sampling and communication campaign (12 months - starting 2025)

A year-long sampling exercise will measure the volume of aerosols collected through both residual and recycling streams.

The project will explore the challenges associated with sorting and processing kerbside-collected aerosols.

Then, a consumer-focused communication campaign will be trialled to raise awareness of proper aerosol disposal methods and encourage responsible recycling habits.

This phase of the project aims to address the knowledge gap identified by Alupro research, which found that many consumers are unsure of how to dispose of aerosols.

This lack of clarity has led to a lower recycling rate compared to other metal packaging formats.

SUEZ and Alupro believe this partnership will be instrumental in achieving their shared goal: responsible household recycling of all aerosols. 

The initiative will establish a baseline recycling rate, develop a roadmap for future improvements, and encourage investment in recycling infrastructure.

The UK Aerosol Recycling Initiative, led by Alupro, brings together key stakeholders across the aerosol value chain in the country.

Partners include manufacturers, brand owners, waste-management companies, and metal processors.