UK

  • Phoebe Kelly

Recycling In Style For World Environment Day At Mighty Hoopla

Recycling In Style For World Environment Day At Mighty Hoopla 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

To mark World Environment Day on the 5th June, we attended Mighty Hoopla festival as part of the third #EveryCanCounts International Recycling Tour!

What is the International Recycling Tour?

The International Recycling Tour is an awareness campaign which aims to mark World Environment Day and champion sustainable living, whilst encouraging people to keep outdoor public spaces clean and to recycle their empty drink cans wherever they go.

This year’s initiative took place simultaneously in 16 countries including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  

The theme for 2023 revolved around each participating country designing and displaying a PixelCan installation in a public space to encourage everyone to do the right thing and recycle their drink cans!

Click here to learn more about the International Recycling Tour.

Iconic Recycling at Mighty Hoopla Festival

As part of the International Recycling tour in the UK, we unveiled a nature-inspired installation at pop music festival, Mighty Hoopla, in London’s Brockwell Park.

Made up of 2,000 drink cans, the PixelCan artwork featured tiger eyes designed to have a ‘watching effect’ over festival goers to encourage them to do the right thing and recycle their drink cans.

In addition to the PixelCan artwork, eight of Every Can Counts’ dedicated ambassadors also helped to raise awareness of the importance of recycling by spreading the ‘aluminium recycles forever’ message.

We never knew that there were so many different ways to recycle your drink can – from voguing to death drops, the possibilities were endless… much like the infinite recyclability of aluminium!

What we Had to Say About the International Recycling Tour!

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts UK and Ireland, said: “From the banks of the Danube in Vienna and Budapest to Brixton in London, this year’s International Recycling Tour will see our signature PixelCan innovation pop up in iconic locations across the world. Not only will the pixelated mural captivate viewers from a distance, but it will also act as a symbol of the infinite possibilities of aluminium recycling, which is the message we’re trying to spread across the UK and beyond this World Environment Day.”

David Van Heuverswyn, Director of Every Can Counts Europe, added: “By coming together to celebrate World Environment Day and embracing the endless potential of aluminium recycling, we aim to inspire behaviour change and help reach 100% can recycling in Europe and beyond. That’s why we are inviting everyone — consumers, local authorities, brands, and event organisers — to join forces and find better ways to recycle on-the-go, while having fun doing so.”

  • Phoebe Kelly

Announcing Our New Partnership With Pernod Ricard UK

Announcing Our New Partnership With Pernod Ricard UK 2560 1920 Phoebe Kelly

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with industry leading wine and spirits company, Pernod Ricard UK. The partnership will see Pernod Ricard UK collaborate with the Every Can Counts programme, alongside drink can manufacturers and the wider recycling industry, to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and work together to increase the recycling rate for drink cans across the UK.

Spreading the Every Can Counts Message

We will be working with Pernod Ricard UK and its brands to encourage more recycling in on-the-go locations. Over the summer months we will be supporting a number of sampling campaigns and festival activations for Pernod Ricard’s Absolut and Malibu brands. The first of these partnership activations will be at Mighty Hoopla festival in London, where our recycling ambassadors will be on hand to collect cans and educate consumers.

Pernod Ricard’s Sustainability & Responsibility Roadmap

Pernod Ricard UK is committed to creating a better world through environmental initiatives. The company’s sustainability and responsibility roadmap – Good Times From A Good Place – has four core pillars: Circular Making, Nurturing Terroir, Valuing People and Responsible Hosting. A key commitment within the Circular Making pillar is working to reduce the company’s carbon footprint intensity by 50% by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050.

A Few Words…

Ian Peart, Commercial Director at Pernod Ricard UK commented: “For RTDs, as for any other segment, we strive to be sustainable and responsible every step of the way, including in our packaging, energy and production, as well as transport. Aluminium is an infinitely recyclable material and in the UK, 82% of aluminium was effectively recycled in 2021. We’re excited to be working with Every Can Counts as we strive to increase that number.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts said: “We’re always very excited to announce new partnerships, especially those with brands as well known and globally recognised as Pernod Ricard UK. It’s great to see these industry leading brands taking steps to encourage their customers to do the right thing and we’re looking forward to working with them to help raise awareness and inspire recycling across the nation.”

Every Can Counts x Pernod Ricard Prize Draw

To celebrate our new partnership with Pernod Ricard UK, we’re giving away a hamper with 40 cans of Absolut and Malibu cocktails for you to share with friends this summer! Click here to learn more and read our terms and conditions.

  • Phoebe Kelly

How Haileybury Set Up A Successful School Recycling Initiative

How Haileybury Set Up A Successful School Recycling Initiative 2560 1709 Phoebe Kelly

We have awarded Haileybury – a day and boarding school based in Hertfordshire – with a Green Can Award for establishing a drink can recycling initiative, which has already seen more than 6.8 kg of aluminium cans recycled since October 2022.

Haileybury’s Recycling Initiative

Haileybury’s Sustainability Committee is an extra-curricular group, made up of around 50 Sixth Form pupils who are all committed to making an environmental and social difference at the school and in the surrounding area.

In October 2022, the pupils ramped up their recycling efforts by installing 30 Every Can Counts recycling boxes in common areas around the school, as well as in each of the 12 boarding houses. These boxes helped to encourage their peers, teachers and visitors to recycle and has since resulted in over 6.8kg of cans being recycled!

Other Sustainability Initiatives at Haileybury

Sustainability is a key focus for Haileybury School which has worked hard to reduce its year-on-year energy consumption by 8% for the first 3 months of the year. This was achieved by installing energy efficient LED lighting and implementing the use of energy monitors to help drive behavioural change.

The school will also be banning single use plastic bottles on site from August 2023, has planted 400 more trees on its fields, and has installed two cycle shelters to encourage its pupils and staff to use more green transportation methods.

Alongside their sustainability efforts, Haileybury pupils also organise and support local community initiatives such as litter picking and organising afternoon tea for elderly members of the community.

Green Can Award Presentation

In addition to receiving an award, pupils from the Sustainability Committee were also rewarded with a workshop led by social enterprise, Casting Innovations. During this workshop pupils learned about the infinite recyclability of aluminium, as well as the melting process with pupils making their own individually casted keyring from recycled aluminium. 

What We Had To Say About the Award

Simon Heard, Deputy Master and Sustainability Lead at Haileybury was delighted with the award: “We feel very fortunate to have so many motivated pupils and committed staff to help push the sustainability strategy of the School, of which one aspect is recycling. It is fantastic, therefore, to team up with a company such as Every Can Counts. To win an award on top of this was very special and we are very proud of the pupils’ achievements.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts said: “We’re very impressed with the efforts of the pupils at Haileybury when it comes to recycling.

“Their Sustainability Committee is setting an excellent example of how the younger generation can get involved to implement change and look after the environment.

“Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and each and every drink can recycled could be back on the shop shelf in 60 days, so small changes, such as rolling out recycling bins at schools, really do add up to make a difference. We hope the group’s ongoing efforts inspire others within the community and the wider area to get involved to help keep the cycle going.”

How to Set Up A School Recycling Initiative

Introducing drink can recycling into schools has never been easier! As part of our mission to achieve a 100% drink can recycling rate, we offer FREE recycling packs to businesses and organisations looking to implement recycling initiatives. With these packs you will receive 3 cardboard collection boxes, can collection sacks and a selection of educational/promotional posters.

Click here to fill out the form and receive your recycling pack today!

Educational Resources About Aluminium Recycling

For any schools interested in introducing a range of multidisciplinary teaching resources on aluminium recycling, please visit the Learning Aluminium Website.

Learning Aluminium contains a selection of free, downloadable, curriculum-linked activities for pupils aged seven to 14. These resources can be used across several subjects including geography, design and technology, English and ICT.

Apply for a Green Can Award!

Have you helped to set up a can recycling initiative at your school? Or maybe you’ve introduced drink can recycling into the work place? If so, we believe that your efforts deserve to be recognised! Click here to find out more about our Green Can Awards.

  • Phoebe Kelly

Introducing the #EveryCanCounts CANvas

Introducing the #EveryCanCounts CANvas 2227 2395 Phoebe Kelly

Visit Covent Garden for Earth Day 2023 and see our brand new installation highlighting the importance of recycling drink cans!

What is the #EveryCanCounts CANvas?

In celebration of Earth Day on Saturday 22nd April, Covent Garden, the sustainable neighbourhood of the West End, is partnering with us for a second time to create ‘The #EveryCanCounts CANvas’.

Made up of over 700 drink cans, the ‘CANvas’ has been brought to life by renowned street artist, Jimmy C, with a bespoke Earth Day design to raise awareness of the infinite recyclability of aluminum and encourage people to recycle their drink cans wherever they are – as when recycled, each and every empty can could be back on sale as a brand-new can in just 60 days.

The installation is located on Covent Garden’s North Piazza and will remain on display until Tuesday 25th April, when Jimmy C will be returning to paint a new ‘CANvas’ ahead of the Coronation weekend – so watch this space!

Chris Latham-Warde, programme manager for Every Can Counts, said: “We’re so excited to partner with Covent Garden again and celebrate Earth Day with the reveal of our brand-new ‘CANvas’ installation.

“Earth Day is all about encouraging worldwide action to help benefit the environment and to preserve the planet, and recycling empty drink cans is something we can all easily do.

“Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, and every empty can could be recycled and back on a shop shelf as a brand-new can in just 60 days. Every can recycled also reduces the carbon footprint of the next can made, so small actions like recycling really do add up to help make a big difference.”

Artist Jimmy C with CANvas installation in Covent Garden.
Artist Jimmy C and Every can counts team with CANvas installation in Covent Garden.

Enter Our Photo Prize Draw!

Make sure you visit Covent Garden for Earth Day 2023 as we will also be holding a photo prize draw with the #EveryCanCounts CANvas! Passers-by have until 30th May to snap a picture with the CANvas installation and enter a social media photo competition for the chance to win a £100 One4All gift card. To enter, take a photo of the CANvas and upload it to social media using #EveryCanCounts and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK (Instagram/Facebook) or @EveryCanCounts (Twitter). Prize draw terms and conditions can be viewed here.

  • ChrisUK

Bodega 51 Presented With Green Can Award

Bodega 51 Presented With Green Can Award 2560 1678 ChrisUK

Bodega 51, an independent bar in Rochester, has been presented with a Green Can Award by Every Can Counts for its ongoing recycling efforts. Since opening in May last year, the bar has recycled more than 25,000 drink cans, with all proceeds being donated to mental health charity, Mind.  

About Bodega 51 and their recycling initiative:

Bodega 51 specialises in canned drinks, stocking over 150 varieties from craft lagers, IPAs, cocktails to juices and soft drinks, all of which are collected and recycled once consumed by customers.

All empty drink cans are taken and sold to local scrap metal business, Medway Metals, with the proceeds then being donated to Mind. In just 10 months, the team at Bodega 51 have raised a total of £200 for the charity and have recycled 300kg of cans.

Sustainability is a key focus for the bar, with it encouraging its employees as well as other local businesses and individuals to drop off clean and crushed aluminium cans in clear sacks in order to be recycled.

The bar also displays boards and posters on-site to educate customers on the benefits of recycling aluminium and to give updates on the progress of their fundraising initiative.

A few words:

Kayea Shome, owner of Bodega 51, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this award and be recognised for our commitment to recycling. Being Kent’s first can bar, recycling is hugely important to us and we’re glad to be able to use our recycling initiative to also give something back to the community by raising money for charity. The more people who can get involved, the better!”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts said: “Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and every empty can could be recycled and back on sale as a brand-new can in just 60 days; so we’re very impressed with the team at Bodega 51 who have made recycling a key focus since their opening last year with their fantastic fundraising initiative in support of Mind.

“The bar is a great example of how independent businesses can make a real difference, no matter their size, and it’s great to see them encouraging other local businesses as well as the wider community to get involved and help look after the environment while raising money for charity too.”

Find out more:

You can learn more about Bodega 51 on Facebook and Instagram.

To find out more about the Green Can Award scheme, click here.

  • ChrisUK

Celebrating Global Recycling Day with the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in York

Celebrating Global Recycling Day with the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in York 2560 1707 ChrisUK

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow Archway has arrived in Exhibition Square in York, ahead of Global Recycling Day (Saturday 18th March).

The four-by-seven metre structure was created using over 2,500 recycled cans and will be on display in front of York Art Gallery for a full week, until Friday 24th March.

Cllr Paula Widdowson, Executive Member for the Environment and Climate Change, at City of York Council, said: “This is a fantastic campaign to highlight the importance of recycling here in York, which we hope everyone will engage with and take photos of!

“Residents can do their bit to keep the cycle going by recycling their aluminium cans at kerbside, or in one of the many local recycling banks located across the city.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “Our rainbow installation has toured up and down the country – from Glasgow to London – and we’re thrilled for it to be making its Yorkshire debut to mark Global Recycling Day this weekend.

“As well as brightening up the city centre, our installation will be reminding people about the benefits of recycling their drink cans.

“Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and every empty can could be recycled and back on a shop shelf as a brand-new can in just 60 days. The people of York can play their part in this process by ensuring all their empty cans end up in the right bin, allowing this valuable material to remain in circulation.”

We’ve already had plenty of people stopping by the installation for a photo, including Green-Can-Award-Winner Karen Nash with the one and only Snappy Croc!

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in front of York Art Gallery.
Every Can Counts and City of York Council staff in front of the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in York.
The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in Exhibition Square, York, with York Minster cathedral in the background.
Lucy Wollhouse and Adam Care take a selfie in front of the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in York.
Lizzie, 6, and Andrew, 3, by the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in York.
The Snappy Croc (Snappy Trust mascot) in front of the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in York.

Enter Our Photo Prize Draw!

Passers-by have until next Friday evening (24th March) to snap a picture with the archway and enter a social media photo competition for the chance to win a £100 York gift card. To enter, take a photo of the rainbow and upload it to social media using #EveryCanCounts and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK (Instagram/Facebook) or @EveryCanCounts (Twitter). Prize draw terms and conditions can be viewed here.

  • Phoebe Kelly

To Crush or Not to Crush Drink Cans: Common Recycling Questions Answered

To Crush or Not to Crush Drink Cans: Common Recycling Questions Answered 2000 1334 Phoebe Kelly

There are plenty of questions you may want to ask about drink can recycling: Should I crush my drink cans before recycling? Should I wash them? Do they travel half-way around the world in order to be recycled?   

But if you think that recycling your aluminium drink can should be as simple as popping it into the recycling bin, then you’re in luck; it really is that simple!

Aluminium is an infinitely recyclable material, so as long as your empty can is placed in a recycling bin, it can be back on the shop shelf as a brand-new can in just 60 days. No matter it’s size, shape or colour.

This blog will answer the burning questions you might still have about drink can recycling and debunk some of the age-old myths that continue to circulate around the internet.

So let’s get to it…

Should I crush my drink cans before recycling?

You do not have to crush your empty drink cans. Some people crush their recycled cans to create more room in their recycling bin, but this is optional. Your can is equally recyclable either way!

Both crushed and uncrushed cans are separated from other recyclables at the sorting facility (also called a materials recovery facility) using electric currents. These currents are called eddy currents or Foucault’s currents. To learn more about the drink can recycling process, you can visit our dedicated web page by clicking here.

Do cans have to be sent thousands of miles away to be recycled?

Over 90% of drink cans collected in the UK are recycled within Europe.1 The majority of cans recycled in the UK are melted down at a large plant in Warrington, Cheshire. This single plant has the capacity to recycle all of the cans sold in the UK. But there are plenty of other options around too, with over 220 aluminium recycling plants spread across Europe!2

How much energy does it take to recycle drink cans?

Recycling cans uses 95% LESS energy than creating new ones from raw materials. So recycling cans leads to huge energy savings as well as savings in greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to recharge almost 20 smartphones!3

Does the plastic coating on the inside of a can mean that they can’t be recycled?  

Manufacturers have used food-grade, polymer-based can coatings for decades as a protective barrier between the metal and the products in the can. The purpose of coatings is to extend product shelf life, and to ensure that the quality and taste of the product remain as intended until the consumer opens it.

Importantly, these protective coatings do not impact upon the recyclability of an aluminium can. The coating on a 330ml standard can makes up only 1-2 percent of the total mass, and is extracted and used as thermal fuel during the recycling process.

How many drink cans are recycled every year?

The UK’s drink can recycling rate in 2021 was 82%.4 That means that 8 out of every 10 drink cans sold in the UK were recycled. It’s a record high recycling rate – but we want to keep raising the bar!

Do drink cans have to be washed before they’re recycled?

You should always ensure your drink can is empty before you put it in a recycling bin, but there is no need to wash it before recycling. Any impurities that remain in the can are removed during the re-melting process.

Do the labels on the cans make them less recyclable?

For smaller brands producing drinks in cans, sometimes their volumes are too low to have printed cans and they apply a label (e.g. paper or plastic) post-production instead.

These cans are still recyclable, but printed cans are preferable as there are fewer non-aluminium components attached to the can.

What is the system in other countries where you get paid for recycling drink cans?   

The system you’re referring to is known as a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and is something which is coming into place in Scotland later this year and will be coming to the UK in 2025.

The money you receive when recycling your cans in this system is a refund of a deposit you pay when purchasing them.5

So there you have it!

You now know that you don’t have to crush your cans before recycling them and that the plastic coating on the inside of a can does not affect the infinite recyclability of the aluminium your drink can is made from!

We know that by writing this blog, the myths surrounding drink can recycling won’t disappear. But we hope that we’ve helped answer some common questions and you’re now feeling better informed about the can recycling process. If you’re still unsure about something, you can always drop us a message, either by email, Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

Want to learn more?

We’ve dedicated a whole section of our website to breaking down the can recycling process. Click here to learn more about the Life Cycle of a Can.

Footnotes

  1. Recycling Process Factsheet (Alupro)
  2. About the Aluminium Industry (European Aluminium)
  3. Aluminium Recycling Factsheet (International Aluminium)
  4. Drink Can Recycling Rate Remains at Record High in UK (Alupro)
  5. Deposit Return Scheme Factsheet (Alupro)
  • Phoebe Kelly

Exeter Recycling Scheme Reaches Major 10K Milestone!

Exeter Recycling Scheme Reaches Major 10K Milestone! 2560 1614 Phoebe Kelly

Exeter City Football Club (ECFC) and Exeter City Council’s innovative recycling scheme, Cans4City, has reached a major milestone.

The scheme, which encourages Exeter football fans to recycle used drink cans whilst also raising money for charity, has now raised more than £10,000 with all funds raised going towards projects and initiatives run both by the football club and its partner charity Exeter City Community Trust (ECCT).

How Cans4City Reached Their New Milestone

Over the years, the Cans4City team has collected more than 12.5 tonnes of aluminium packaging – equivalent to 700,000 cans – which has helped fund donations towards a football kit for refugee team Exeter United, a mental health awareness programme for the ECFC Academy, purchasing a defibrillator for Cliff Hill training ground, as well as a number of improvements to St James Park and its Memorial Garden, and much more.

Who are Cans4City?

Originally founded in 2005, Cans4City was launched by Exeter City Football Club as a free way for its fans and the community to support and contribute to the club financially, but really picked up momentum after partnering with Exeter City Council in 2019.   

Working in conjunction with the council’s waste management department, Cans4City now runs upwards of 20 aluminium recycling points in Exeter and throughout Devon, including many on ECFC’s grounds, and has recruited over 100 volunteers.  It also raises money by partnering with community litter picks and beach cleans across Devon and Cornwall.

Cans4City Wins Green Can Award in 2022

Last year, we presented the team behind Cans4City with a national recycling award – our Green Can Award – in recognition of their outstanding recycling effort. Click here to read the full story from January 2022.

We are incredibly proud to support community groups such as Cans4City to achieve their goals when it comes to drink can recycling. If you run a community group or are part of an organisation who has gone the extra mile to promote drink can recycling, then we want to hear from you! Click here to read more about our Green Can Awards and find out how you can apply today.

A Few Words from Cans4City and Every Can Counts

Justin Quick, Chief Operating Officer at Exeter City Football Club, said: “As a trust-run club, every pound counts and thanks to Cans4City, every can recycled goes towards funding improvements to the club’s facilities or to supporting local community groups and projects. Our next target is to hit 1 million recycled cans and we’d love everyone to get involved – whether it’s one can or 500 – each really will help to make a difference.”

Matt Hulland, Resource Recovery Manager for Exeter City Council, who has helped grow the initiative at the club, said: “Cans4City has gone from strength to strength over the years and it’s fabulous to reach this milestone.”

Ruth Williams, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor, who has responsibility for recycling and waste management, added: “We’re very proud of the achievements of the club, trust, fans and collectors of cans. Not only does collaboration of this kind create ownership but it also encourages people to recycle rather than throw away a valuable resource we can’t afford to waste.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “Cans4City is an award-winning example of a start-up project working in partnership with its local council to deliver real benefits to not only the local community, but the environment too. We hope other organisations around the country can get inspired by what Cans4City has achieved since its launch and follow in the footsteps of this great initiative.”

How to Support Cans4City

You can support Cans4City by dropping off your empty cans at one of the scheme’s recycling collection points, which include the Red Square at St James’ Park, as well as at the Old Tiverton Road Co-op, and The Devon Yeoman pub on Beacon Lane. For more information about the scheme, please see https://news.exeter.gov.uk/cans-4-city-supporting-exeter-city-community-trust/.

  • Phoebe Kelly

To Infinity and Beyond: The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room Launches at Dundee Science Centre

To Infinity and Beyond: The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room Launches at Dundee Science Centre 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room – a new immersive exhibit about can recycling – has arrived at Dundee Science Centre to inspire people to recycle their empty cans! Read on to take a peek inside our giant can and learn more about this immersive exhibition.

What is the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room?

The ‘Infinity Room’ installation, created by recycling not-for-profit Every Can Counts, aims to teach children and the wider public about the importance of recycling drink cans, as well as illustrating the infinite recyclability of aluminium.

Those who step inside the giant drink can will find themselves in a mirrored room that creates an illusion of being surrounded by an infinite number of suspended aluminium cans. At the same time, a narrator will take them on an educational journey through aluminium can recycling and its environmental benefits.

The exhibit, which is made up of 1,500 recycled cans and 25 square metres of mirrors, also makes for an ideal photo opportunity. Visitors can share their own photos and videos of the Infinity Room on social media with the hashtag #EveryCanCounts.

Take a Peek Inside the Giant Can:

We Even Had a Visit from Less Waste Laura!

Award winning climate activist, environmental scientist, and ethical influencer, Laura Young (also known as Less Waste Laura) visited the Infinity Room during the launch at Dundee Science Centre. Take a look at some of the photos below:

Less Waste Laura stands in front of the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room, holding an empty can over a recycling bin. She is smiling and is enjoying her visit.
Less Waste Laura stands in front of the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room, along with Chris-Latham-Warde (the Every Can Counts Programme Manager) and George Wickenden (the Marketing and Audience Development Advisor at Dundee Science Centre). George holds a recycling bin while Laura and Chris recycle an empty drink can each. All three are smiling and excited to be a part of this recycling initiative.
Less Waste Laura stands inside the Infinity Room. Half of her body is visible and the other half is reflected in the mirrored door of the Infinity Room.

You can find out more about Laura’s visit to our recycling-themed installation on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or for more tips and tricks on how to reduce waste and create a more sustainable future for our planet, make sure you take a look at Laura’s social media channels (Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter).

What We Had to Say About the Arrival of the Infinity Room!

Dundee Science Centre:

Lorraine Lemon, Head of Business Development at Dundee Science Centre, said, “As well as providing an enjoyable visitor experience, we are passionate about motivating change and inspiring positive behaviour for the long-term benefit of our community, and the wider world. The best way to do that is to make an impact and really make people think. Hosting the Infinity Room provides us with an opportunity to do just that – to provide a visual treat, something truly immersive, but also a catalyst for conversations, questions and behavioural change when families and other visitors go home. This interactive exhibit is also a way of showing visitors that even the smallest of steps can make a difference, that we can all do something to reduce our carbon footprint, and that items we might otherwise throw away can be recycled or even transformed into a piece of art.”

Every Can Counts:

Chris Latham-Warde from Every Can Counts added: “We’re thrilled to be bringing our one-of-a-kind Infinity Room installation to another city in the UK after its recent success in Glasgow.

“The aim of the exhibit is to raise awareness of the infinite recyclability of drink cans in a visual and interactive way and we hope that visitors to Dundee Science Centre are left feeling inspired by it. Each and every one of us can play a vital role in keeping this cycle going and enabling aluminium to be recycled again and again, forever.”

Visit the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room!

Visitors can explore The Infinity Room at Dundee Science Centre free of charge, Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 4 pm. Admission costs still apply for the Centre’s year-round exhibitions. To find out more about Dundee Science Centre, please visit https://www.dundeesciencecentre.org.uk/

Learn More!

Want to learn more about the ways we inspire and empower people to recycle their empty drink cans? Visit our news page for more stories! Or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to join us on our journey towards a 100% drink can recycling rate!

  • Phoebe Kelly

2022 In Review: What We’ve Been Doing To Encourage Drink Can Recycling (And How You Can Help Us Spread The Message In 2023)

2022 In Review: What We’ve Been Doing To Encourage Drink Can Recycling (And How You Can Help Us Spread The Message In 2023) 1920 2560 Phoebe Kelly

Did you know? 82% of drink cans sold in the UK are recycled and the aluminium drink can recycling rate is 73% across Europe as a whole, helping to make drink cans the most recycled beverage container on the planet! But we believe that with your help, we can achieve a 100% drink can recycling rate.

Watch our 2022 highlights video below to see us in action working towards this goal:

Here’s a closer look at what we’ve been up to in 2022 to inspire you to recycle your empty cans:

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow

  • We took the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow to Covent Garden in March and had so many wonderful responses from everybody who posted a pic of themselves with our installation on social media. Click here to read the full story!
  • To celebrate Earth Day in April we took our rainbow to Newcastle and met Bruce the pug who you all loved on our socials! Click here to read the full story!
  • We took our rainbow to St James’s Park in June to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee! A special Jubilee-themed PixelCan wall display was also on display near the Mall and provided the perfect photo opportunity for those enjoying the celebrations.
  • For Recycle Week, we took our rainbow to Liverpool city centre to show everyone just how magical recycling can be. Click here to read the full story!

Launch of the Infinity Room

  • In October, as part of Recycle Week, we launched our brand new immersive mirror installation in Glasgow Science Centre: The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room.
  • This installation is made from 1500 recycled cans. Once inside, the mirrored room gives the illusion of being surrounded by an endless amount of suspended drink cans, illustrating the infinite recyclability of aluminium.
  • The Infinity Room will remain on display in Glasgow Science Centre until 8th January 2023 before embarking on a UK tour next year. More dates and locations to follow.

Our First Ever Red Bull Soapbox Race

Despite attending many Red Bull Soapbox Races to inspire and encourage drink can recycling, we’d never had the nerve to actually take part with our very own soapbox… until this year!

Our soapbox was half-can, half-plane to illustrate the varied uses for aluminium once it’s recycled. Chris, our driver, and Tom, our co-pilot, reached an impressive 28mph while speeding down the hill at Alexandra Palace, all in the name of drink can recycling.

Click here to read the full story!

Festivals and Events

Every year we attend a series of festivals and events during the main summer period to help spread the Every Can Counts message and educate people on the importance of drink can recycling. This summer we had a presence at 15 major events around the country!

How We Encourage Drink Can Recycling at Festivals and Events:

The Every Can Counts Ambassadors:

Our summer team is the beating heart of festival season. You’ll often find them wearing their iconic can-shaped backpacks and they’ll either be wandering the campsites or based at our pitch, where you’ll also find voting bins and a chill out zone. Don’t be afraid to chat to our team if you have any questions about drink can recycling!

Our Can Recycling Backpacks:

The Every Can Counts ambassadors bring the recycling bin to you! These are wearable recycling bins which we will take around the festival campsites to collect any cans you might want to recycle while on-the-go.

Recycling Rewards:

As an incentive to recycle as many of your empty cans as possible, we’ll often be giving out recycling rewards such as festival-branded T-shirts, keyrings made from recycled cans and temporary tattoos.

Green Can Awards

Our Green Can Awards celebrate those who have gone above and beyond when it comes to drink can recycling. Over the years we’ve presented awards to businesses, community groups, local initiatives and individuals. This year we gave awards to two fantastic community-focussed initiatives:

  • January: We presented an award to Cans 4 City, a drink can recycling scheme raising funds for Exeter City Football Club in partnership with Exeter City Council. Read the full press release here.
  • November: We presented Crewe Clean Team with an award for their incredible recycling efforts in their local community, collecting 200,000 cans in just 11 years. Read the full press release here.

Key Statistics

Drink Can Recycling Rate

  • The drink can recycling rate remains at an all-time high of 82%!
  • If you’re interested in learning more, check out this amazing fact sheet from Alupro.

Festival & Event Survey Statistics

Our team of ambassadors complete recycling surveys with attendees at festivals and events, and this year they completed over 9,800! Here’s what we learned:

Where would you like to see more drink can recycling points?

  • Beaches and green spaces: 66%
  • On the street: 64%
  • Music and Sports events: 54%

Your favourite DRINK CAN recycling fact!

  • “Aluminium drink cans are endlessly recyclable”: 42%
  • “Every drink can you recycle reduces the carbon footprint of the next one made”: 30%
  • “Empty cans are recycled and back on the shop shelf as a brand-new can in just 60 days”: 27%

TLDR

In 2022 we spread the recycling word at:

  • 11 music festivals
  • 4 city centre locations with the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow
  • 2 events with our PixelCan display (the Platinum Jubilee and Download Festival)
  • 2 race weekends at Silverstone Circuit (Formula 1 and MotoGP)
  • A brand-new Infinity Room installation in Glasgow Science Centre
  • Our first ever Red Bull Soapbox Race!

Key Takeaways:

  • The drink can recycling rate is at an all-time high of 82% but we want to keep raising the bar and ultimately reach 100%.
  • Over the summer, attendees at festivals and events completed over 9800 of our recycling surveys! That means our Recycling Ambassadors directly spread the Every Can Counts message to nearly 10,000 people this summer!
  • You told us you want to see more ‘on-the-go’ can recycling points, whether this is at beaches & green spaces, music & sports events or on the street.
  • We have delivered a total of 300 free recycling packs to businesses, charities and local groups who want to improve their drink can recycling rates.
  • We have given a Green Can Award to two fantastic community-focussed initiatives: Cans 4 City in Exeter and Crewe Clean Team.

How you can join us on our mission to achieve a 100% drink can recycling rate:

Every Can Counts x Canned Wine Co.
  • Keep recycling those empty cans! They’re incredibly easy to recycle and can be back on the shop shelf within 60 days after they’re collected. 
  • If you can’t find a recycling bin while you’re on-the-go, take your empty can home with you!
  • Businesses, community groups and charities can order a free recycling pack from us to help encourage drink can recycling on the go.
  • You can make money from the cans you collect and recycle and put it towards a good cause! Aluminium is the most valuable material in your recycling bin.
  • Learn more about the recycling process and help us spread the word.

You can learn more here:

Share this post on social media and let us know if you’ve seen any of our work this year and what you’ve learned from us so far!

Is there anything else you’d like to see us do in 2023? Get in touch!

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