Fruit tree gifted to local school for Carlisle’s recycling efforts

(Date of issue: Wednesday, 11 March 2009)

Carlisle City Council is planting a special apple tree to mark local recycling efforts to help people in rural Malawi, Africa, next Tuesday (17 March), at 10am.

The tree has been given by not for profit organisation Alupro, which grows a fruit tree in Malawi for every tonne of aluminium drinks cans and foil recycled in the UK, and is a thank-you to Carlisle residents for helping to raise the national recycled aluminium tonnage by 18% in the past year.

Carlisle residents who recycled their tin cans and foil have helped to grow 162 fruit trees in Malawi, Africa. Figures show that between June 2007 and June 2008, approximately 162 tonnes of aluminium was recycled and has resulted in a grafted orange tree being planted for each tonne. The recycling figure exceeded expectations, as 100 tonnes was set as an initial target. The promotion continues until June 2009.

The fruit tree will be planted in the grounds of Longtown Primary School next Tuesday (17 March) at 10am. Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment and Infrastructure and local ward councillor John Mallinson will help children from Longtown Primary School to plant the tree and unveil a small plaque.

Councillor Ray Bloxham, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Infrastructure, said:

“We want Carlisle residents to carry on recycling even more aluminium cans and foil, their efforts have already exceeded our expectations. The city currently has one of the UK’s best recycling rates and the scheme provides another reason to recycle even more.”

Around 46,000 householders can recycle tin cans from their kerbside using Greenboxes supplied by the City Council. Tin foil can be recycled at Asda; Union Lane car park, Brampton; Bousteads Grassing Household Waste Recycling Centre; Townhead car park, Dalston; Longtown Community Centre; Morrisons and Tescos, Warwick Road.

Over the first year of Alupro’s Recycle for Africa campaign, July 2007 to June 2008, recycled tonnage grew from 41,672 tonnes to 49,242 tonnes. This means that a minimum 49,242 guava, paw paw, and grafted orange and mango seedlings will be grown to maturity in rural villages and orchards in Malawi.

Recycling aluminium is 20 times more energy efficient than making it from the raw material bauxite, and the initiative seeks to boost recycling rates by showing how recycling every can not only saves 95% of the energy needed for primary production, but also helps build sustainable lives in Malawi.

The project is being run with small UK charity Ripple Africa and aims to build sustainability in the region by helping to halt deforestation, improve nutrition, and provide the basis for trade and small fruit drying and juicing businesses. For further information visit www.alupro.org.uk