This week we focus on
aluminium, next week it'll be plastics, including toner
cartridges.
In 1995, 6.7 billion aluminium cans were used in the UK. If recycled these
would be worth around £65 million. 28% of these aluminium cans were recycled, which is
about 1.9 billion cans weighing 30,206 tonnes. This still leaves 4.8 billion cans a year,
equivalent to 85 cans a person, going to landfill. Doesn't that make you feel a bit
ashamed. A bit thirsty, drink a can of cola, chuck it in the bin. What a waste!!! Jeez.
Its so important to recycle if you can, how much time does it take.. not long ? and you
can get a slight kick out of NOT contributing to the ever growing landfill problem.
You can also make cash. Yippee.
Aluminium cans make up over half the
drinks cans sold in the UK. They are easy to recognise because:
- they do NOT stick to a magnet - test the side, not
the top
- they sometimes have the "alu" sign
- they have a very shiny silver base
- they are very light in weight
- they do not go rusty .
Its not just cans tho, also foil milk bottle tops,
tops of cartons, baking and freezing trays, kitchen foil, cigarette and tobacco foil
(without the backing paper).
Find out where and how to make cash for yourself or
a community group from:
- Aluminium Can Recycling Association (ACRA),
5 Gatsby Court, 176 Holliday St, Birmingham, B1 1TJ. Local call charge telephone number:
0345 227722. Supply information, free magnets and a list of agents buying aluminium.
- Aluminium Foil Recycling Campaign (AFRC),
Bridge House, 53 High Street, Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire B50 4BG. Tel: 0800 626287.
Nation-wide scheme.
- Alcan Aluminium Can Recycling,
PO Box 108, Latchford Locks, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 1NP. Tel: 01925 784100 Freephone
0800 262462 Fax: 01925 784101.
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