The organisation, representing the aluminium packaging producers, reprocessors, foil converters, can makers, fillers and brand owners in the UK, is confident of reaching a 46% aluminium packaging recycling target.
However, despite achieving 2013's? goal, lower? Q4 figures - 13,981 tonnes versus the 18,935 tonne average recorded for Quarters 1 to 3– indicates some reprocessors/exporters are choosing not to report tonnage figures, the result of receiving less than £5/tonne PRN value, which does not provide a significant enough incentive once targets have been met.
ALUPRO said it is concerned that the low Q4 PRN value, which has already lead directly to a fall in the number of reprocessors /exporters choosing to become accredited in 2014, means that a significant volume of? aluminium packaging which is collected for recycling will not be counted towards the 2014 recycling rate.
The PRN system is demonstrating the achievement of targets but is failing as a mechanism to measure "true" recycling performance, it said.
Rick Hindley, executive director, Alupro, said: "Last year's success is a good indicator that 2014's higher target can be met, or even exceeded, which is great news for the sector, the environment and for the many campaigns and programmes Alupro runs that encourages the recycling of Aluminium.
"The Q4 figures, however, should be of concern, showing the PRN measurement system needs examining if it is to work in encouraging reprocessors and exporters to report their tonnage figures, especially if future and ever higher recycling targets are to be met."
He said the system is 'malfunctioning' as companies producing and placing packaging onto the market are legally obligated to part of the system while recyclers and exporters of packaging are not.
