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COUNCIL CONVERTS CANS INTO TREES Every person in the Highlands is being challenged to get into the recycling habit by supporting a new campaign to recycle more aluminium cans. The Highland Council and the UK Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) are challenging everybody to join in the “Get Recycling” campaign and to recycle more aluminium. In return The Highland Council promises to plant a tree for each tonne of aluminium cans recycled during the next twelve months. The Highland Council will collect the cans, separate the aluminium from the steel and bale it. This is then sold to Alloa Community Enterprise and goes from there to Alcan Recycling in Warrington where it is smelted and made into ingots that are then sold on to mills who convert it to sheeting and then into cans. This means that every aluminium can in the area collected will count towards the “Get Recycling” national appeal that plans to see at least 35,000 trees planted in parks and woodlands across the UK. The Highland Council and Alupro hope to persuade the public to recycle more and help reach the Highland Area Waste Plan’s target of 12% recycling by the end of 2003. Steve Freeman from Alupro said: “It couldn’t be easier to take part in the programme and however the aluminium is recycled it counts. Everyone has access to a local can bank they can use, either in neighbourhood centres or at the big shopping stores.
Steve McDermott, Assistant Waste Management Officer (Recycling) with The Highland Council’s, Transport, Environmental and Community Services said: “In Highland last year around 16 tonnes of aluminium cans were recycled through can banks and community groups. The recycling targets set in the Area Waste Plan will prove a challenge to us all in Highland and supporting projects such as the “Get Recycling” campaign will help us achieve our goals.” “Get Recycling” is designed to increase the recycling of aluminium cans and foil and to help win the 95% energy savings which are made when aluminium is recycled. A drinks can given for recycling today may be back on the shelf as a new can within six weeks. The appeal is organised and sponsored by Alupro in association with The Highland Council. Aulpro is a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, sponsored by the leading can sheet, foil rollers and foil converters supplying the UK market. It is responsible for encouraging and developing recycling collection initiatives, for consumer education and for representing the aluminium packaging industry to government. “Get Recycling”, National appeal - to plant 35,000 native trees across the UK A tree for every tonne of aluminium drinks cans and foil recycled between July 2003 and end-June 2004 Trees for local planting available through local authority registrations Balance of trees not specifically claimed for local planting will be in association with the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. Planting sites in each English region, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Every aluminium drinks can and every kilo of foil counts, wherever it is collected in the UK Separate programme for schools, community groups and charities selling alucans and foil through 350 Cash for Cans centres across the UK: a tree for every 50 kilos sold, in addition to cash value of around 40p per kilo. Trees available are native species, available as two-year-old, cell-grown saplings sized between 45 and 60cm. Oak, ash, rowan, hazel, field maple and scots pine. Recycling aluminium saves up to 95% of the energy used to make the metal from the raw material, bauxite. Aluminium can be recycled again and again without loss of properties.
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