|
 Environment
\ Environmental Services \ Recycling
Environmental
Services
Trees for Africa
The
Mayor, Cllr Pat McGinn has launched a new recycling appeal that
will give Newry and Mourne District one native tree for every tonne
of aluminium cans and foil recycled, and at the same time help grow
trees in a sustainable forest project in West Africa. The aim is
to encourage householders to get into the recycling habit, and everybody
is being asked to get behind the scheme and get involved.
By
recycling aluminium at local bring sites and in their blue bins
resident of Newry and Mourne will really be taking environmental
action. Householders are asked to remember to wash and squash their
food and drinks cans. This reduces the risk of contamination and
means that a greater amount of cans can be recycled. Recycling aluminium
uses only five per cent of the energy needed to make it from the
raw material, and with recycled cans often back on the shelf just
six weeks later, the energy savings quickly grow.
The
Trees for the UK/Trees for Africa campaign, which is sponsored by
not-for-profit organisation Alupro [Aluminium Packaging Recycling
Organisation], has been developed from Alupo’s very successful
2003/4 ‘recycle for trees’ promotion, which led to 35,000
trees being planted across the UK this winter. The initiative provides
a reward for recyclers which improves their landscape, with trees
being planted in local parks and woodland. This year the appeal
will also be helping to develop a well-managed sustainable forest
training programme in the drylands of Africa.
Trees
for planting locally will be selected from a list of native species
such as English Oak, Scots Pine, Silver Birch and Rowan. Trees for
Africa will be grown from seed in the nurseries of the Gabio Forest
project in Burkina Faso, and have been chosen for their food and
medicinal uses. Mango, Cashew and Baobab trees also encourage the
production of honey, which is sold to provide income for the five
village communities involved in the project.
To
find out where your nearest bring site is or for further recycling
information please call Tara Cunningham, Environmental Liaison Officer
028 30313220, contact Alupro on 0845 7227722 or look on the website
www.alupro.org.uk
|
