Novelis helps Coventry charity to help others
On 1st February 2010 Coventry Recycling of Waste (CROW) will begin operating a ‘Think Cans’ cash for cans centre at its community-based recycling centre, located on the Sparkbrook Street Industrial Estate in the city. Members of the public and local businesses can bring any quantity of used aluminium cans to the centre to be recycled and will receive cash in return. The centre is being supported by Novelis, the world’s leading aluminium can recycler and operator of Europe’s only dedicated can recycling plant, located in Warrington, Cheshire.
CROW, which is a registered charity, has been providing work experience, training and tuition for adults and young people with disabilities and learning difficulties since 1985. CROW uses the medium of recycling waste materials to provide invaluable opportunities for people who might otherwise be disadvantaged in the workplace.
Barbara Cowling, CROW Centre Manager, said: “During these difficult economic times we are happy to be able to offer local people and businesses this additional new facility, which will pay cash for every aluminium drink can brought in for recycling. Aluminium is a valuable raw material that can be recycled endlessly and has always provided the charity with much-needed funds. The Novelis ‘Think Cans’ scheme will help us to increase our income stream while providing a useful service to the people and businesses of Coventry.”
“Anyone is welcome to bring their used drink cans to us, be they school groups, other charities, small businesses or individuals,” continued Barbara. “The advice and support we are receiving from the Business Development team at Novelis is invaluable and the scheme also enables us to provide incentives to encourage people to bring their cans to us.”
CROW’s “Think Cans” cash for cans centre will be open 10.00 am to 2.00 pm, Monday to Thursday and the charity will pay collectors 40p in cash for every kilogramme of cans they bring to the centre – that’s about 65 cans. Recyclers will also receive a reward card which allows them to build up points based on the quantities of aluminium drink cans they collect. By doing this they can also claim prizes for their efforts. The cards and incentives are provided by Novelis who also run a prize draw for collectors twice a year.
Terry Marks, Business Development Manager at Novelis, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Barbara and the team at CROW. Recycling aluminium cans makes sense whichever way you look at it. Not only does it help CROW and others raise much-needed funds, but it also saves up to 95% energy when you compare recycling aluminium drink cans with producing the metal from raw materials. By providing a location and service for recycling cans, as well as the encouragement built into the ‘Think Cans’ scheme, we hope that CROW will be able to continue its valuable work with these adults and young people.”
Just over half of the 5 billion aluminium drink cans sold in the UK each year are recycled – so that still leaves plenty to collect. In Coventry, CROW’s new Think Cans programme provides another option for people wanting to recycle their cans – in addition to the canbank and kerbside schemes.
Novelis Recycling works with around 40 ‘Think Cans’ cash for cans centres across the UK. For details of your nearest site call the Alupro Information Line on: 0845 722 7722 or visit www.thinkcans.com. Think Cans in Coventry – CROW Tel: 02476 552444
