Kerbside collections

Normally householders are asked to place certain types of recyclable packaging – including steel packaging – into a recycling box or bag for collection weekly or fortnightly.

Steel cans collected using a kerbside system are cleaner and less contaminated than those collected from mixed domestic (dustbin) waste. As a result, they are more suitable for the steel making process and have the highest market value.

Advantages of kerbside collections

Steel cans make an important contribution to kerbside recycling schemes.  Studies show that:

• Metal packaging contributes towards the achievement of Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) of local authorities.
• The cost benefit of including metals in kerbside collection can be realised for kerbside sorted, co-mingled and two-stream collections.
• The collection of metals, even at low recovery levels, can have a positive net benefit on the cost of the kerbside collection and MRF processing systems.
• The inclusion of metals in most kerbside systems will reduce the overall collection cost of a multi material collection, even at low levels of recovery.
• The inclusion of metal cans should increase the recovery of other targeted materials.
• Revenues from the sales of the metals alone will more than off-set the additional collection and sorting costs of collecting more recyclables.
• Metals can be included in most multi-material collections at no additional cost (depending on efficiency of collection and assuming sales revenues are received).
• The benefit of including metals increases as the recovery increases.

An easy, convenient way to recycle

Corus research shows that kerbside collection covered approximately 90% of UK households in 2004 / 2005.

Other research by MORI showed that:

• Consumers see kerbside collection as the ultimate in ease and convenience.
• There is a strong relationship between the number of people who recycle and those who have access to a kerbside scheme.
• Regular collections are vital for the success of kerbside collections.

How we can help

We can help by:

• Advising local authorities, waste management companies and community collectors on the most effective ways of introducing steel can collection into existing or new kerbside schemes.
• Offering advice on the best ways to sort or extract steel cans from kerbside bags or boxes.
• Providing information to promote kerbside schemes to households and local communities.