News
You can treecycle!
This feature was added on 5 Aug 2005.
All aluminium cans recycled in Hertfordshire this year will help to get more trees growing in the drylands of Africa – as well as in our home county!
After WasteAware joined the not-for-profit recycling organisation Alupro last year, Alupro donated a tree for every tonne of aluminium recycled in the county through the kerbside collection services* and recycling points provided by the eleven local authorities.
That resulted in 170 tree saplings being planted in Shenley Park last November.
This year WasteAware is encouraging you to recycle even more of your aluminium – don't let any slip through the net! If Hertfordshire recycles more aluminium this year than last we will be entitled to more trees. We will donate the difference in the total tonnage to Burkino Faso and the sustainable forest training programme in the Gabio Forest.
For example:
This year: 220 tonnes - Last year: 170 tonnes = Potentially 50 trees to Burkino Faso
Hertfordshire will stand alongside other local authorities and organisations across the country is this scheme, so this is our chance to contribute towards making a substantial difference; not only to the drylands of Burkino Faso but also to unsuring that a useful resource is recycled not overlooked and sent to landfill.
Trees for Africa will be grown from seed in the nurseries of the Gabio Forest and have been selected for their food and medicinal uses. Mango, Cashew, Baobab and Acacia trees will be grown to help boost the production of honey – generating a much needed income for 5 local village communities. Trees for enhancing our local landscape will be selected from a list of native species such as the English Oak, Scots Pine, Silver Birch, and Rowan.
"It's great to know that every aluminium can we recycle in the county will not only help our local environment but will also contribute to the development of a sustainable forest in a parched area in Africa", said County Councillor Stuart Pile, Executive Member for Environment and Transportation.
Recycling aluminium saves up to 95% of the energy needed to make a new can from the raw ingredients. The energy saved by recycling just one aluminium can could run a television for 3 hours!
* check to find out if your local district or borough council offer a can collection as part of their kerbside collection service.