You CAN Help
By Karen Free

Before throwing your aluminum cans away, consider depositing them in specially marked Habitat receptacles coming soon to a location near you.

The Aluminum Association has made a five-year commitment to Habitat for Humanity International allowing local communities with Habitat affiliates to earn money through the recycling of aluminum cans. HFH is currently in its second year of the partnership.

To date, more than 150 Habitat affiliate communities have established nearly 3,000 recycling locations throughout the program, dubbed "Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes." The first Habitat house built with funds generated from the program was constructed at the 1998 Jimmy Carter Work Project in Houston, Texas.

Meanwhile, Habitat for Humanity affiliates in South Carolina, Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas have received grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 for launching and maintaining noteworthy aluminum can recyling campaigns. The grant money is to be applied toward the construction of a Habitat house in the affiliates' communities. The awards are made on a quarterly basis through an application process.

Steve Thompson, project director for the industry's "Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes" program says, "Out of every six-pack of aluminum cans sold, four are already being recycled.  The last two cans have to go somewhere, and we want them for Habitat for Humanity."

For more information, or for a list of participating recycling drop-off locations in your area call (888) 798-CANS, or visit the Aluminum Association's Web site at www.aluminum.org.


Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, October/November 1999.
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©1999 Habitat for Humanity International