There are around 300 Cash for Cans centres across the UK, where you can sell your aluminium cans for cash, and help grow fruit trees in Malawi.

All the alu drinks cans and foil bought by Cash for Cans centres count towards the tree growing programme, and you can use the cash for anything you like - anything from clothes and DVDs to holidays.

Or, why not set up a group collection for your school or favourite charity? You will be surprised how easy it is to persuade people to save aluminium cans and foil for you, particularly if you tell them exactly what you are saving for.

It's something people can do for you - and the environment - without dipping into their pockets for cash.

Join in !

As long as there is a cash for cans centre nearby, you could be joining the millions of people every year who help themselves and the environment by recycling aluminium cans. Many of these centres also buy foil, but check their location, buying policy and prices before you start saving foil.

Click here for our recycling site locator.

Start a special appeal

Aluminium cans have been collected for many large fund-raising appeals, such as hospital scanners, lifeboats and minibuses.

But, just as importantly, aluminium can collection has enabled individuals, schools and all types of fund-raising groups buy smaller items such as canoes and tents, computers and books, footballs and guitars.

Whatever the scale of your project, aluminium cans can help raise the funds!

Planning an Appeal

Some tips to get started

• Decide what you're saving for - and the scale of the Appeal necessary to hit the target.
• Contact your nearest Cash for Cans centre. Check the prices. Do they take foil, and if so, what will they pay ? If you decide to collect foil as well as cans, it must be kept separate throughout the collection process.
• Do you need to store the cans somewhere, before they are sold?
• Can you provide a collection service for supporters? If you are able to arrange public-access collection banks at, say, a local petrol station or pub, make sure you are realistic and professional about the service you can provide. If you say you will collect on a Monday, make sure you do - or at least telephone if you really can’t make it. Build relationship and goodwill - it pays off in all sorts of ways.
• Produce leaflets and posters. Make sure you include what you're saving for, where to take the cans and who to contact.
• Contact the local press to see if they will back the Appeal, and give regular reminders and progress updates. Give them good opportunities for news pictures, and short, punchy news items.
• Contact Alupro: we have a lot of experience in helping groups meet their targets, and are here to make sure you get all the friendly advice you need. We can put your details on our Website, and make sure that callers to our information service know about your Appeal.