How cans collected in Formby are helping families in Malawi become self-sufficient

EVERY time a tonne of aluminium cans or foil is picked up from the roadside in Formby, a tree is planted in Malawi.

Householders in the town who use the Green Bee recycling scheme are helping families there to become self-sufficient.

Not-for-profit recycling organisation Alupro is behind the scheme which donates a tree to help people in the African country.

Last year more than 216 grafted orange trees were planted for families in rural Malawi to grow and cultivate thanks to recyclers throughout Sefton. Plaques have now been planted in the orchards saying where the trees have come from.

Cherry Hamson, from Alupro, said: “The plant label acknowledging the contribution made by people in Sefton will be given to local community orchards when the trees are planted out.

“Someone had an idea and said how great it would be if people in the rural Malawian villages felt a connection to the communities in the UK which had helped them so much be providing the fruit trees.”

The tree nurseries are run by local garden clubs and schools, and the first orange grafted trees have been produced by trainees learning new horticultural skills at the project.

As well as providing greenhouses, training and materials in Malawi, Alupro is making sure that a fruit tree is grown to maturity for every tonne of aluminium drinks cans and foil recycled in the UK by local authorities.

Sefton’s Cabinet member responsible for environmental matters, Cllr David Tattersall said: “It’s good news that after just one year, recyclers in Sefton have been responsible for giving so many fruit trees to the project.

“Recycled aluminium drinks cans and foil are not only reused in the UK but go towards helping Malawi.”

l Recycling aluminium is 20 times more efficient than making it from the raw material bauxite.