Almost 500 tonnes of aluminium recycled in county

A record amount of aluminium was recycled last year in West Sussex, according to new figures. A total of 499 tonnes of the metal was recycled in the county – a 10 per cent increase on the previous year. As well as allowing the metal to be re-used, it will lead to 499 trees being grown in the UK and Malawi as part of a programme run by not- for-profit organisation Alupro, which donates a tree for every tonne of aluminium recycled. Derek Whittington, who is in charge of strategic planning at West Sussex County Council, said: 'Nearly 500 tonnes is a fantastic result. 'Recycling aluminium is 20 times more energy and carbon efficient than making it from the raw material bauxite. The fact that we're also helping grow trees every time we put our drinks cans, empty aerosols and clean foil out for recycling really drives home the fact that the benefits of recycling go beyond managing our household waste efficiently.“