Fruit trees for Africa? Can do!

A fruit tree will be grown in Malawi for every tonne of aluminium drinks cans recycled in North Norfolk through the Twin Bins household rubbish and recycling collection service.

Thanks to a scheme run by Alupro, the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (an association of foil and drinks can manufacturers and reprocessors), high-value trees, including guava and mango, will be planted or grown from grafts and sold to individuals or small businesses in Malawi.

The project, in association with charity Ripple Africa, aims to tackle deforestation, improve nutrition and help the economy. By bringing returns to local communities the fruit trees will resist the trend for deforestation in Malawi, much of it caused by the cutting of trees for firewood, which then leads to poor soil and crop failure - and the clearing of more woodland to grow food.

Last year, Alupro gave one tree for each tonne of aluminium cans that had been recycled in North Norfolk in the preceding 18 months - meaning 67 trees were distributed to North Norfolk schools and Alupro's affiliated projects in Africa. This year, there will be no allocation of trees within the UK, and all our aluminium recycling will benefit the Malawi project.

More than 100,000 trees have been planted in the UK and Africa thanks to Alupro since its first campaign in 2003.

Councillor Brian Hannah, Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling, said: "The more aluminium cans we recycle, the more fruit trees will be grown, and the more difference we can make to people's lives. This is a positive reminder that when we throw something away, it's not the end of the story."

For more information, visit www.alupro.org.uk and www.rippleafrica.org

ENDS