Corus reports increase in steel can collections
Steel reprocessor Corus has said it has achieved an 80% increase in the recovery of steel cans through its CanRoute centres.
The company"s latest annual report suggests that 25,000 tonnes of steel cans are being sent to the five Corus plants to be reprocessed from the 13 CanRoute centres across the UK.
We need to work with local authorities to help raise householders" awareness of the recyclability of steel and to encourage participation.
The Corus report, Targeting Recycling, also reveals that the company supported 31 local authorities, community groups and waste management companies to boost steel can collections, using money from the producer responsibility system, via the issuing of packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs).
John May, manager at Corus, said: "There has been a significant increase in the level of steel can recycling in 2004, which has seen the level of steel packaging recycled reach 46%. This is very positive, however, there is still potential to increase this activity further."
The expansion in domestic can collections will do little to alleviate the gloom for packaging producers and their compliance schemes seeking to purchase steel PRNs this year. While average PRN prices for steel were £65 per tonne last year – itself a jump on prices seen in 2003 – some obligated producers are having to pay £150 per tonne for PRNs this year, because of a shortage of availability.
The shortage of steel packaging reprocessing is linked to a massive downturn in the exports of scrap steel in the first half of this year, with some suggesting that even some long-term contracts for steel PRNs could be in jeopardy.
The decrease in exports has been caused largely because world steel prices have slipped and scrap metal dealers have been sitting on material waiting for prices to rise again. However, experts have told letsrecycle.com that they believe the situation is now starting to improve.
One analyst said: "The exports situation will recover, there is no doubt about that, we are seeing evidence of that already. But the question is, will it recover in time for year-end?"
Meanwhile, the Corus report identifies kerbside collection as key to any further increase in steel packaging recycling. A study showing the economic benefits to local authorites through including metals in kerbside recycling schemes is being promoted by Corus along with the DTI.
Mr May said: "As investing in the UK"s recycling infrastructure, the next 12 months will see a shift towards an emphasis on participation. We need to work with local authorities to help raise householders" awareness of the recyclability of steel and to encourage participation."
Corus has also commissioned a study to show the potential for steel packaging recovery through energy-from-waste plants. The study showed that about 30,000 tonnes of steel packaging could be recovered through this method by 2008, when the next European Packaging Directive targets have to be met.
The company"s latest annual report suggests that 25,000 tonnes of steel cans are being sent to the five Corus plants to be reprocessed from the 13 CanRoute centres across the UK.
We need to work with local authorities to help raise householders" awareness of the recyclability of steel and to encourage participation.
The Corus report, Targeting Recycling, also reveals that the company supported 31 local authorities, community groups and waste management companies to boost steel can collections, using money from the producer responsibility system, via the issuing of packaging waste recovery notes (PRNs).
John May, manager at Corus, said: "There has been a significant increase in the level of steel can recycling in 2004, which has seen the level of steel packaging recycled reach 46%. This is very positive, however, there is still potential to increase this activity further."
The expansion in domestic can collections will do little to alleviate the gloom for packaging producers and their compliance schemes seeking to purchase steel PRNs this year. While average PRN prices for steel were £65 per tonne last year – itself a jump on prices seen in 2003 – some obligated producers are having to pay £150 per tonne for PRNs this year, because of a shortage of availability.
The shortage of steel packaging reprocessing is linked to a massive downturn in the exports of scrap steel in the first half of this year, with some suggesting that even some long-term contracts for steel PRNs could be in jeopardy.
The decrease in exports has been caused largely because world steel prices have slipped and scrap metal dealers have been sitting on material waiting for prices to rise again. However, experts have told letsrecycle.com that they believe the situation is now starting to improve.
One analyst said: "The exports situation will recover, there is no doubt about that, we are seeing evidence of that already. But the question is, will it recover in time for year-end?"
Meanwhile, the Corus report identifies kerbside collection as key to any further increase in steel packaging recycling. A study showing the economic benefits to local authorites through including metals in kerbside recycling schemes is being promoted by Corus along with the DTI.
Mr May said: "As investing in the UK"s recycling infrastructure, the next 12 months will see a shift towards an emphasis on participation. We need to work with local authorities to help raise householders" awareness of the recyclability of steel and to encourage participation."
Corus has also commissioned a study to show the potential for steel packaging recovery through energy-from-waste plants. The study showed that about 30,000 tonnes of steel packaging could be recovered through this method by 2008, when the next European Packaging Directive targets have to be met.