pressrelease

Contact: Julie Meeks
Tel: 01527 597757

July 8, 2005

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS IDEA TO GROW RECYCLING

Canny recyclers have the chance to spread the benefits of their recycling far and wide when they turn their aluminium drink cans and foil into cash. As well as receiving cash for the aluminium they collect they can claim spring and summer flowering bulbs, and at the same time they will be helping an aid project in Africa.

Local recycling centre's are encouraging recyclers to join in the scheme which rewards their efforts with a bunch of flowers - growing year after year to brighten up their garden or window box. By saving their receipts they can earn bulbs including daffodils, tulips, lillies and crocosmia. In addition, for every tonne of aluminium packaging recycled through cash for cans nationwide, a tree will be planted in the West African country of Burkina Faso.

The mango, cashew, baobab and acacia trees will be grown and planted as part of a bee-keeping and woodland management programme. The trees will be used for food and medicinal purposes, and are species that help to boost the production of honey - generating much-needed income for the community.

To receive their free bulbs recyclers need to register with the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) and then save their cash for cans receipts. They have two opportunities to claim: In September for spring-flowering daffodil, tulip and crocus bulbs and in February 2006 for summer-flowering lillies, crocosmia and ranunculus.

The initiative is part of a wider 'Trees for the UK/Trees for Africa' recycling campaign. Trees will be planted locally and in Africa based on the volume of aluminium packaging recycled through local authority kerbside schemes and can banks. Last year a similar promotion run by Alupro resulted in 35,000 trees being planted in the UK.

Alupro's Regional Programme Manager Ruth Meeke says: "We all know that recycling makes good sense, and with this scheme the benefits of recycling cans for cash will be felt on an international scale. Cash for cans benefits individuals, schools and community groups who can plant their bulbs and see the benefits year after year, and know that they have made a meaningful contribution towards improving the lives of people in Africa at the same time."

Ends

Notes for editors

The 'Trees for Africa, Bulbs for You' promotion is jointly sponsored by Novelis Recycling, which operates Europe's only dedicated aluminium can recycling plant. The plant has the capacity to recycle every aluminium drink can sold in the UK every year. The used cans are recycled into ingots used in the manufacture of new drink cans, the process saves 95% of the energy needed to manufacture aluminium from its raw materials. www.thinkcans.com