How packaging is recycled

It takes many years for empty cans and bottles to disappear if they end up in the natural environment. This is why Dansk Retursystem A/S works hard to collect and recycle as much one-way packaging as possible. This is in keeping with the Danish Government’s Waste Model Strategy 2009–2012 which, amongst other areas, focuses on litter.

Recycling is also good for the environment and the climate. Less CO2 and fewer environmentally hazardous materials are discharged every time packaging material is used again. Actually, it often requires more energy and chemicals to manufacture completely new materials.

Collection and sorting

Dansk Retursystem A/S collects packaging on a regular basis from stores and delivers it to intermediate storage facilities around the country. Thereafter, the packaging is transported to the main terminals in Hedehusene or Løsning, where the packaging is sorted and prepared for recycling. Plastic bottles and metal cans are sorted and compressed into large blocks or bales, with glass bottles poured into containers.

Recycling material

Bottles and cans are sold directly on a contract basis to companies that specialise in producing new food packaging from recycled material. In this way the quality of the material is preserved, which means that in principal the material can be used again and again.

From the time it leaves the terminals until it ends up as new raw material at the processors, Dansk Retursystem A/S tracks the packaging along the way through ongoing quality control reports and company visits. In addition, we lay down requirements that companies must comply with the environmental regulations and international conventions in areas such as employee rights.

From old to new glass

The glass is taken from the two terminals to the processors, which sort the glass by colour before melting it down. The used bottles are turned into products such as jam jars, drinks glasses or new glass bottles. In this way, recycling of glass conserves the world's natural resources.

Used over and over again

The compressed aluminium bales are loaded onto lorries and transported to companies that melt down the aluminium. The molten metal is then turned into materials such as thin sheet which is then used to make new cans.

Aluminium can be used over and over again. The process saves energy and conserves raw materials. For example, recycling requires only 5% of the energy used to manufacture new aluminium. Also, one kilo of recycled aluminium saves the extraction of four kilos of bauxite, which is the mineral from which aluminium is made.

Converted into new packaging

Having been compressed into bales, plastic bottles are transported to companies which sort, crush and wash the material. The crushed pieces, so-called flakes, are used to manufacture new bottles and other types of packaging for food products.