Press

Europeans would like to see more recycling bins when they are out and about, according to a survey performed in 14 European countries by the LUCID polling agency in association with the Every Can Counts initiative that aims to raise awareness about the advantages of recycling aluminium drink cans.

These results come on the heels of news that 86% of people say that it’s more important than ever to recycle. However, it seems that the chief obstacle to higher recycling rates is a lack of infrastructure.

The poll showed that most respondents (93%) would like to see more recycling bins on the streets, in public spaces, parks, beaches, or on trails. That number inches up to 94% when people were asked about large events such as festivals or sporting events. Furthermore, a resounding 90% of people said that these events should only use recyclable packaging for drinks.

“Most respondents are ready to do more when it comes to sorting and recycling the drink cans they consume out of home, but proper recycling and collection solutions are often too scarce. Collecting and recycling drink cans could be made easier in a number of cases, it can even be fun just as our European initiative shows, but it certainly makes a lot of sense as aluminium cans are made from a fully circular and permanent material that makes them the most valuable and recycled drink packaging,” Every Can Counts Europe Director David Van Heuverswyn said.

People chiefly have problems recycling when out of the home as 83% of respondents said they always or often put their drinks packaging in the recycling bin when at home, but that number plummets to 54% in the workplace, and only 49% do so when out and about, while 48% recycle in outdoor locations like parks and beaches.

People Want to Recycle More, But Lack Information About the Process

Since 2009, Every Can Counts has worked to increase awareness about recycling aluminium drink cans with the vision of recycling 100% of the cans consumed in Europe. And although 74,5% of the drink cans were recycled in Europe in 2017, the poll showed two-thirds of respondents think the aluminium can recycling rate is under 50%. This paradox shows that there is still more work to do in terms of consumer knowledge. Awareness about aluminium’s circular properties is a similar case, with only 55% of respondents correctly identifying aluminium as an infinitely recyclable packaging material.

Moreover, when it comes to what happens to recyclables after leaving the home or office, where they are going to be recycled, what happens to the materials after recycling, and especially how much of  the waste gets actually recycled, respondents admitted they are not well informed and would like to know more.

Recyclability also plays an important role in consumer behaviour. Most respondents (54%) said they prefer to use drink cans because they are easily recyclable. This reason was also the strongest motivation when compared with others such as light packaging, easy to transport, open on the go, and easy storage. It’s thus not surprising that a total of 94% said companies should use packaging that is infinitely recyclable.

Finally, people expressed favourable views towards incentives to reducing the environmental footprint of drinks packaging such as a reward system for recycling, improved labelling information, better signage, and harmonised rules and sorting instructions at least at country level.

The survey polled a sample size of 13,793 people older than 16 balanced for age and gender in 14 countries (Belgium, Serbia, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Ireland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France) from August 5 to September 14, 2020.

To find out more about survey results, see:

ECC SURVEY RESULTS

ECC FULL REPORT SURVEY

More than 90% of Europeans declare they would like to do more for recycling

A vast majority of Europeans said it is more important than ever to take care of our environment and recycle after COVID-19 while a staggering 91% said they would like to do more, according to a survey performed in fourteen European countries by the LUCID polling agency in association with the Every Can Counts initiative that aims to raise awareness about the advantages of recycling aluminium drink cans.

Many proclaimed the world would be different after the coronavirus pandemic, and the results of this poll are a sign that is coming true with a growing urgency about caring for the planet.

“The findings show there is a growing awareness about the need to recycle as much waste as possible, and the COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated that process. People realise how pressing this problem is and are willing to work towards establishing a true circular economy,” Every Can Counts Europe Director David Van Heuverswyn said.

Moreover, a total of 52% of respondents would not put the economy over the environment, despite the economic slowdown in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two out of three said recycling is an obligation for all and that there is an urgent need to tackle the problem. More than three quarters of respondents always or often recycle all types of materials while 76% of people often or always recycle their aluminium drink cans, the most recycled beverage packaging globally.

Since 2009, Every Can Counts has worked to increase awareness about recycling aluminium drink cans with the vision of recycling 100% of the cans consumed in Europe. In 2017, the drink can recycling rate stood at 74.5%, but the poll showed that 90% of respondents believe their country should recycle more if not all drink cans, and a full 4 out of 10 would like to see 100% of them getting recycled. 

The survey polled a sample size of 13,793 people older than 16 balanced for age and gender in 14 countries where Every Can Counts has a local initiative (Belgium, Serbia, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Ireland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France) from August 5 to September 14, 2020.

To find out more about survey results, see: ECC – REPORT – SURVEY

With large-scale events on hold for the near future, Every Can Counts encourages people to continue their recycling efforts at home with the Recycling Challenge, a viral initiative that has taken off in Spain and is now being launched across Europe. How can you take part? It’s easier than you think!

The Recycling Challenge wants to breathe life into a new beginning – because that’s how we see this difficult time and the challenges it brings. The Recycling Challenge provides people with a creative way to show off their coordination and innovative spirit while doing their part for the environment and recycling their cans. We know that every good intention needs a bit of a push to get started, ideally in a way that’s fun and cool, so we want to spotlight this drive.

Simply enough, Every Can Counts is challenging people to film themselves placing an aluminium drink can in a recycling bin in the most creative way possible. Does that sound easy? Think of your own creative way to get that can into the bin. If you’re lacking inspiration, check out Instagram, but there’s no limit to what you can create. All posts with the hashtag #RecyclingChallenge will be featured on Every Can Counts channels.

This is all part of the initiative’s ReSTART campaign that encourages people to change their habits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is separated into several parts that are the steps symbolizing working to a better future and combining all our individual efforts with the greater goal of a circular economy.

Individual Steps:

The #ReSTART manifesto: R (e) THINK – R (e) COVER – R (e) CYCLE – R (e) INVENT – R (e) START

These steps are represented using special creative motifs on the national Every Can Counts social media accounts. The #ReSTART campaign wants to make people think while showing that we can all take something positive from this special time. It’s just a matter of finding ways to our individual actions to reinvent ourselves as human beings. If we do that, we will wake up in a smarter, cleaner, and healthier world; a circular world.

According to the latest data (Warsaw, May 11, 2020), the aluminium drink can recycling rate was over 80.5% in Poland during 2018. It’s another year where the level exceeded 80%, well-beyond the EU requirement of 51%. This exceptional and stable result makes aluminium packaging the leader in terms of recycling, which was achieved thanks to an effectively functioning commercial collection system, and the new local regulations on extended producer responsibility should take into account well-functioning and tested solutions developed by the aluminium industry.

The aluminium beverage can is currently the most recycled packaging waste in Poland. This achievement was possible thanks to a nationwide network of collection points and scrap yards buying beverage cans from consumers. It’s a self-financing system that is economically and environmentally effective. The aluminium industry’s involvement in the recycling process has also significantly contributed to this great result. Put simply, domestic can-makers in cooperation with aluminium suppliers are successfully closing the recycling loop.

In accordance with EU regulations, an entrepreneur introducing packaging to the market covers the costs of collecting, transporting, cleaning, and, in extreme cases, finance their recycling. Aluminium packaging, which is the most valuable secondary raw material in municipal waste, does not generate additional costs and there is no need to pay extra for its processing. In the case of aluminium, the value of the raw material collected covers all related costs. The special advantage of this metal should be taken into account when developing Polish Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations the government is currently producing.

“We are aware that it is necessary to introduce new solutions that will ensure compliance with ambitious EU recycling levels. At the same time, as an industry that has been working hard for years to achieve the current levels of aluminium can recycling, we expect the new regulations to incorporate the system that is already effective today at all legal, operational, and financial levels,” said Bartomiej Wojdyło, acting sustainability director of CANPACK Group and RECAL Foundation board member.

One of the solutions discussed is the introduction of a deposit on beverage packaging, which can contribute to raising the overall levels of packaging waste recycling. When designing the deposit system for beverage packaging, it should be remembered that surpluses generated from the sale of valuable raw materials cannot financially support other packaging. The introduction of a deposit system for all packaging in Poland that is being considered today should first apply to packaging that is difficult to separate from the household waste stream, because it is often the only way to achieve the required recovery levels.

“The RECAL Foundation, representing the aluminium packaging recovery industry, is of the opinion that the DRS should first be introduced for packaging where it is the shortest and perhaps the only way to achieve the required levels of recovery,” – President of the RECAL Foundation Board Jacek Wodzisławiski said. “The system already being implemented should assume the possibility of future extensions to other packaging and be treated as a supplement to the Extended Producer Responsibility system,” Jacek Wodzisławski added. Fees incurred by producers should cover the costs of processing a type of packaging so that the system is effective. Lower costs will increase the amount of mono-material packaging or those easy to process, such as aluminium beverage cans. Such a solution will significantly increase the importance of environmentally-friendly packaging for subsequent processing.