Unveiling the world’s first mobile can crusher

THE children’s charity Cans for Kids has unveiled what it says is the world’s first mobile can crushing unit, put together with the help of a £50, 000 donation from UNOPS.

The organisation, which recycles aluminium in order to buy medical equipment for the children’s wards at the Makarios Hospital in Nicosia, hopes the machine will enable them to raise more money more quickly in the future.

A can sorter and baler have been mounted onto a lorry, which will roam the island to crush cans on the spot, in order to squeeze in as many as possible before transporting them back to central depots for export.

In January, the lorry will kick off in Nicosia. From February, it will tour other major towns to collect aluminium from a pre-designated location.

It’ll then return to each place on a weekly or monthly basis, according to demand.

” This is a very exciting project, certainly a first in Cyprus and we think, probably, a first in the world,”Cans president Olga Demetriades said yesterday.

Since it was set up in 1990, Cans For Kids has collected more than 16 million cans, and donated equipment worth over £80,000 to the Makarios.

Yesterday, Green Line schools donated two syringe pumps worth £1,800 to the hospital, bought from the proceeds of cans the pupils had collected.

The charity also promotes the benefits of recycling by through educational visits to schools

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