Environment and roads

Recycled Aluminium to provide fruit trees in Africa

Aluminium cans recycled in Hertfordshire this year will help to provide hundreds of new fruit trees in Malawi, thanks to an innovative scheme run jointly by the Hertfordshire WasteAware Partnership and Alupro.

Alupro – a not-for-profit recycling organisation - will donate a fruit tree in Malawi for every tonne of aluminium drinks cans and foil recycled through kerbside collections and local recycling points during the next two years – working towards a target of 85,000 new trees.

This is the third year in which the Partnership and Alupro have joined forces in this way. They will be working in association with the British charity Ripple Africa, which aims to tackle de-forestation, improve nutrition and establish new businesses for fruit drying and juicing.

“The number of aluminium cans recycled in 2006 was almost double that of the year before, so the signs are that this scheme has already been a great incentive to get people recycling more,” said County Councillor Derrick Ashley, Chair of the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership. “It’s great to know that every aluminium can we recycle in our county will not only save massive amounts of energy but will also contribute directly to the development of a sustainable forest in the drylands of Africa.

“Last year the scheme provided trees for the Gabio Forest in Africa to help produce food and medicine for local people there, and this year we’re hoping to exceed that achievement, with the help of local people - who have already demonstrated their commitment to recycling as much as possible.”

During 2006, 367 tonnes of aluminium were recycled in Hertfordshire, compared with 170 tonnes in 2005. Recycling aluminium is 20 times more efficient than making it from the raw material, bauxite, so recycling makes massive energy savings.

About half the new fruit trees - producing guava and paw paw fruits - will be grown from seed in 75 existing nurseries. The remainder will be produced by grafting at Ripple Africa’s base on Lake Malawi before being sold to individuals and small community businesses.

The WasteAware partnership comprises all eleven local authorities in Hertfordshire. To find out more about recycling, visit www.wasteaware.org.uk or phone 08457 425000.