News

The weight of drinks cartons recycled in Europe during 2007 rose to 330,000 tonnes, an increase of 7% on the previous year, according to statistics compiled by the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE).

It found that the volume of recycled beverage cartons represented 32% of the total produced across the UK and continental Europe.

Last year, ACE's UK arm launched an initiative in conjunction with local authorities to enable consumers to return drinks cartons to collection facilities, which ACE said has since extended the UK's geographical reach of carton collection from 20% to 85%.

The organisation added that it expects to see the UK recycling rate to increase rapidly as a result of the scheme.

Christian Verschueren, ACE's director general, said: "Our industry is committed to increase recycling levels of our beverage cartons. This is why we encourage collection schemes through partnerships with local authorities and drive innovation for our products."

The material processed from the recycling of beverage cartons, which includes an average of 75% wood fibre, is used to produce packaging for consumer goods and as a raw material for office stationery and tissue papers.

The paper and packaging industry is currently developing the means to recover the non-fibre from drinks packaging.