Almost 14,000 residents across Roundhay and Moortown are being inspired to ‘Foil in Love’ with recycling, as part of a new campaign launched by Leeds City Council. From wrapping foil and trays to aerosols, beverage cans and empty food tins, the initiative calls for households to recycle their clean aluminium packaging.

Run in partnership with the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), the programme aims to target residents through social media outreach, a leaflet drop and specially liveried bin lorries operating relevant collection routes. With sustainability a key driver for the Council, the goal is to help residents recognise and recycle more foil packaging items in their green recycling bins.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for Climate, Energy, Environment and Green Space, said: “We’re always looking for ways to encourage our residents to recycle as much of their used packaging as possible. The good news is that more than 128 tonnes of aluminium was recycled across Leeds and the surrounding areas in 2022. However, analysis shows that Leeds residents also placed 1,292 tonnes in general waste bins, when they simply could have put it in their green recycling bin.”

“Working in partnership with Alupro to deliver the ‘Foil in Love’ campaign will provide another way to encourage residents to think carefully about disposing of aluminium packaging in the right bin and promote the benefits of recycling things like foil trays, pie tins and drinks cans.”   

Tom Giddings, Alupro’s executive director, added: “Educating the public about best practice recycling is a key goal for Alupro, for the supply chain and for local authorities too. Our consumer engagement campaigns promote a positive message in a creative way – we’re not forcing people to recycle, we’re inspiring behavioural change.

“With our ‘Foil in Love’ campaign, we’re spreading two important messages. Firstly, it’s easy to recycle your used aluminium packaging – simply rinse off any chunky bits of food, then place in the correct bin! Secondly, aluminium is infinitely recyclable, meaning you can melt it down and reform it to create new products time and time again.”

The Roundhay and Moortown ‘Foil in Love’ with recycling campaign kicked off on Monday 19^th June and will run for four weeks. People are being encouraged to like and follow the Leeds Recycles Facebook and Twitter pages, with some exciting competition prizes up for grabs. This is the 20^th campaign delivered by Alupro through its foil recycling programme since 2017.