• Alupro is a not for profit organisation funded by the leading UK aluminium packaging producers and recyclers to stimulate increased recycling rates

• Recycling aluminium is 20 times more energy efficient than making it from the raw material, bauxite

• The drinks can you give for recycling today is often made into a new can, filled and put back on the shelf in just six weeks

• Aluminium can be recycled over and over again without loss of quality

• 75% of all the aluminium ever produced is still in use

• Saving energy also means reducing carbon emissions:  a tonne of aluminium recycled saves 95% of the greenhouse gases emitted during primary production, as well as the 95% energy saved

• Recycling aluminium saves 9 tonnes of greenhouse gases

• Recycling one tonne of aluminium saves about the same amount of CO2 as taking a small car off the road for a year

• Recycling one tonne of aluminium saves about enough energy to run a television for one hour

Adding empty aerosols and clean foil to can collection

• 67% of local authorities currently collect empty aerosols with mixed cans in kerbside systems.   Before recycling, plastic lids should be removed and aerosols emptied, but not squashed.

• 60% of local authorities currently collect clean aluminium foil through kerbside or bring systems, including 11% which work with community groups on foil collection systems involving both dedicated foil banks, and foil collected from the kerbside.   All clean aluminium foil can be recycled, such as foil trays and pie cases, dairy lidding, and chocolate and household wrapping foil.   Metallised plastic film such as crisp packets will spring back when scrunched in the hand  -  and should not be given for recycling

• In a consumer survey conducted in August 2009, 39% of respondents thought they could recycle empty aerosols, with 59% thinking they could recycle clean foil.   84% of respondents who do not currently recycle aerosols (85% for foil) would recycle them if local authorities offered the service.

• 29,500 tonnes of steel and aluminium aerosols are used in the UK each year (25,000 tonnes of steel;  4,500 tonnes of aluminium).

• 26,000 tonnes of plain foil are used for packaging applications, wrapping foil and foil platters in the UK each year.

• 90,000 of aluminium drinks cans are used in the UK each year, with a third estimated to be used in away from home locations such as the workplace, sports and leisure locations and while travelling.

Recycle for Africa

• Alupro has grown more than 250,000 trees in the UK and Africa between 2004 and 2009

• Alupro grows a tree for every tonne of aluminium packaging recycled, using official government PRN figures 

• The last 150,000 trees have been grown in Malawi with charity partner Ripple Africa www.rippleafrica.org

• The trees being grown in Malawi are fruit trees, grown in 100 community orchards in the Nkhata Bay district of northern Malawi.   About two-thirds of these trees are local guava, paw paw and others, to improve local nutrition.   About a third of the trees are improved citrus and mango, with the aim of building small community businesses when cropping allows.   Alupro provides not only the seed and materials, but a greenhouse, staff salaries, and training.

The project in Malawi is a good example of low-tech sustainable development:  improving the economic potential of the area while tackling deforestation and nutrition.