Children from two schools in the Forest of Dean will discover how their recycling efforts can benefit people in Malawi.

For every tonne of aluminium cans and foil recycled in Gloucestershire during 2008, a fruit tree will be planted in Malawi courtesy of Alupro - Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation.

As part of the SPRiNG project (Supporting Recycling in Gloucestershire) pupils from Littledean School and Forest View School in Cinderford will learn more about aluminium packaging, how it is made from raw materials and how long it takes to decompose in a landfill site.

Kate Cole, Waste Education Officer for Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Each child will get to plant their own silver birch tree from a seed.

“Pupils will also be acting out the lifecycle of an aluminium can and learning about what happens to it when it gets recycled.

“We will be highlighting the serious side of the Fruit Trees for Malawi programme too, and explaining the link between deforestation and climate change.”

De-forestation is a major problem in Malawi, as it not only removes the benefit of the trees themselves, but also degrades the soil’s fertility, as topsoil is washed away in the heavy downpours of the rainy season.

As the soil deteriorates, crops fail and more trees are cleared to grow new crops for food.
Alupro says the fruit trees not only provide a good food source, but also act as a basis for fruit drying and juicing enterprises, adding value to the crop as the trees mature.