pressrelease

Contact: Ruth Meeke
Tel: 01527 597757

July 4, 2005

WELSH RECYCLERS HELP GROW TREES IN WALES, UK AND AFRICA
The more aluminium recycled, the more trees will be grown.

A new appeal for the public to help plant trees in the UK and Africa, just by recycling their aluminium cans and foil has been launched in Wales by Sian Lloyd ITV weather presenter.

One tree will be grown in the UK or Africa for every tonne of aluminium packaging recycled until September 2006. The trees in Africa will be grown from seed in nurseries at the Gabio Forest, Burkino Faso, as part of a sustainable forest management and bee-keeping project run with five village communities. Mango, cashew, baobab and acacia trees have been chosen for their food and medicinal uses, as well as being species that boost the production of honey, which is sold in local market to provide much-needed income.

In the sub-saharan drylands of Burkino Faso, bush fires, firewood cutting and clearance for agriculture are all threats to sustainability of the forest and the people it supports. The new scheme, which is sponsored by not-for-profit industry organisation, Alupro, working with Bristol based charity, Tree Aid, means that people in the UK can help the project achieve its environmental aims and alleviate poverty just by recycling their aluminium drinks cans and foil.

Already fifteen Welsh local authorities have registered to take part in the campaign. All local authorities that register for the scheme will be able to claim native trees such as English oak, Scots pine and silver birch to be grown in their own area, as well as providing support for the African project.

The scheme has been developed to help drive up UK household recycling rates, which lag behind most other European countries. Recycling aluminium is one of the best things an individual can do to help the environment, since it saves up to 95% of the original energy, and can be recycled over and over again without losing quality.

"With drinks cans often back on the shelf just six weeks after we give them for recycling, we all need to get into the recycling habit" says Sian Lloyd.

"And now - the more we recycle, the more trees will be grown, which is going to make a difference. In rural Africa trees feed, house, provide energy and improve the environment for many poor families. So just by recycling we can support their efforts to make a better life for themselves and their children."

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Alupro (Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation) is a not for profit company, limited by guarantee, sponsored by the aluminium packaging and recycling industries. www.alupro.org.uk

TREE AID supports some of the world's poorest people living in rural Africa to become self-reliant by helping them secure basic needs and vital income from trees. This is done through training and funding community forest projects. www.treeaid.org.uk