Disposal of used aluminium collected through kerbside recycling services

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the disposal of used aluminium collected through kerbside recycling services in your area.

As part of a wider investigation into the UK aluminium recycling chain, I recently submitted Freedom of Information requests to all district and borough councils within your county. Those councils have directed me to you as their Waste Disposal Authority, stating that they do not hold all the information I have requested because the sorting, processing and onward sale of recyclable materials is your responsibility, not theirs.

As the statutory Waste Disposal Authority responsible for the processing and recycling of materials collected at the kerbside by these councils, I am seeking the following information.

1. What happens to the aluminium collected at the kerbside by the waste collection authorities in your area after it is conveyed to you.

a. Which Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) or facilities sort the aluminium from the recyclable waste stream?

b. Who operates this MRF? Is it operated by yourselves, a contractor, or a third party? Please name the operator.

c. Once sorted, to which company or organisation is the aluminium sold or transferred for recycling or reprocessing? Please name the company or organisation.

2. Where is the aluminium recycled?

a. Do you have any contractual requirement or policy directive specifying that aluminium must be recycled in the UK?

b. Is your aluminium recycled in the UK, or is it exported for recycling abroad?

c. If exported, to which country or countries is it sent?

3. What volume of aluminium is collected and what income does it generate?

a. How many metric tonnes of aluminium were collected at the kerbside across your area in the most recent financial year for which data is available? Please state the year.

b. How much income did you derive from the sale of this aluminium in that year?

c. Does this income subsidise, or make a substantial contribution to, the cost of your waste collection programme and is any of the income redistributed to your collecting councils?

4. What contractual arrangements are in place?

a. With who do you have contracts for the sale or transfer of sorted aluminium?

b. Do the contracts specify if the aluminium must or priority given to recycling in the UK?

c. Do the contracts require reporting on the final recycling destination of the aluminium?

1. What happens to the aluminium collected at the kerbside by the waste collection authorities in your area after it is conveyed to you.

a. Which Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) or facilities sort the aluminium from the recyclable waste stream?

Barkston Heath (2024/25)

b. Who operates this MRF? Is it operated by yourselves, a contractor, or a third party? Please name the operator.

New Earth Solutions (west) UK t/a Mid UK (2024/25)

c. Once sorted, to which company or organisation is the aluminium sold or transferred for recycling or reprocessing? Please name the company or organisation.

Britannia Beverages. (2024/25)

2. Where is the aluminium recycled?

a. Do you have any contractual requirement or policy directive specifying that aluminium must be recycled in the UK?

No

b. Is your aluminium recycled in the UK, or is it exported for recycling abroad?

Exported abroad

c. If exported, to which country or countries is it sent?

Thailand.

3. What volume of aluminium is collected and what income does it generate?

a. How many metric tonnes of aluminium were collected at the kerbside across your area in the most recent financial year for which data is available? Please state the year.

1,498.34 tonnes 2024/25

4. What contractual arrangements are in place?

b. Do the contracts specify if the aluminium must or priority given to recycling in the UK?

No

c. Do the contracts require reporting on the final recycling destination of the aluminium?

Final recycling destination of the aluminium & all materials are recorded as part of the contract.