The figures were released this month by the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging(Apeal), which uses them as a means of showing that the use of the material for packaging can helpprocessors and others meet the EU's waste reduction targets.
"A key factor contributing to these high recycling rates is the adaptability of steel to a variety ofcollection systems ranging from mixed household waste to multi-material, door-to-door collection,"Apeal stated. "Such systems, which are generally integrated into the waste management systemfor a locality, are now commonplace in Europe and are rapidly being implemented in Eastern and Central Europe."
The systems have the advantage that they collect all types of household steel packaging,including food cans, drinks cans, aerosols and other forms. Some systems, notably ones based on deposits, are restricted tobeverage containers, Apeal noted.
For the first time this year's report by Apeal includes recycling data gathered from 30 countries.In addition to the EU-25, the report includes recycling data from Romania, Bulgaria, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.
Growing recycling rates are being achieved throughout Europe with the amount reaching up to 92per cent in Belgium.
The Baltic states, including Poland, Slovakia and Lithuania have also boosted their recyclingrates, with the amount of tonnage being recycled in Slovakia increasing by 37 per cent, and inLithuania by 120 per cent.
Other countries that improved their recycled tonnage include the UK and Denmark, whichregistered between 10 per cent and 15 per cent increases.
Spain, Finland and Italy achieved increases of between 5 per cent and 10 per cent. Austria, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland andHungary increased their recycling performance by up to 5 per cent.
Turkey achieved a 34 per cent recycling rate for metal packaging, exceeding the 30 per cent targetimposed by law.
Apeal expects further increases in recycling rates in Central and Eastern Europe. The trend is driven by the ongoingdevelopment of the collection and recycling infrastructure as well as the implementation of phased EU recyclingtargets that have to be met by 2015.
Philippe Wolper, Apeal's managing director said EU laws should remain targeted at the promotingthe environmental benefits of recycling and continue to support the efforts made by our industry to achieve highrates.
"Ambiguous messages about the value of recycling could pave the way for member states to promoteeconomic instruments which totally disregard the contribution of highly recycled packaging materialstowards the sustainable use of resources," Wolper said. "In terms of environmental policy, it is of paramount importancethat the Waste Framework Directive, which is currently being revised, continues to support recyclingas an environmentally efficient recovery option with at least the same priority as reuse."
EU laws set strict goals on recycling targets throughout the bloc, leading to regulatory pressure on processors to use more materials that do not eventually end up in landfill.
The results highlighted by APEAL also demonstrate the commitment by European countries to meet EU Directive 94/62/EC, which requires that 50 per cent of all metal packaging is recycled by member states by 2008. According to APEAL, since 2002 steel has become the most recycled packaging material in the EU.
The association attributed the improvement in results to countries adopting door-to-door collections of multi-waste material as part of an integrated waste management system. Previously countries relied on deposit systems, but these were largely restricted to collecting beverage containers.
The magnetic properties of steel make sorting easier than other packaging materials. The improved collection systems, ensuring that more steel packaging is collected, are lowering the cost of using recycled steel for against other materials, Apeal says.