Grafitti, egg rolling, and a googly-eyed mascot made of cans? Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day with Every Can Counts!
To celebrate Earth Day, we partnered with Preston City Council and local artist, Shawn Sharpe, to bring you a brand-new CANvas design during the Preston Egg Roll! The event saw thousands of locals gather in Avenham Park on Easter Monday to roll their chocolate egg down the hill and enjoy workshops, music, and street theatre.
Made up of over 700 recycled drink cans, the latest #EveryCanCounts CANvas aims to raise awareness around the importance of recycling and encourage people to recycle their drink cans at events like the Preston Egg Roll and beyond.
Shawn, who is well known for his mural artworks around the North West, live-painted the CANvas with a bespoke Earth Day design which depicts a pair of hands holding a smiling planet to demonstrate that every action to protect the environment goes a long way.
A team of recycling ambassadors were at the event, collecting used drink cans in their recycling backpacks and engaging with members of the public to spread their message about the benefits of recycling. Canzee, our recently updated canny mascot made from 300 recycled drink cans, also captured the attention of the crowds at the Preston Egg Roll. His role was simple: to remind everyone that every can really does count and to show the public the fun side of drink can recycling!
At the end of Earth Day, the ‘CANvas’ installation will be transferred to its permanent location at Eco Town, an interactive educational experience at Farington Waste Recovery Park.
Check out our highlights from the Preston Egg Roll here:
Chris Latham-Warde, programme manager for Every Can Counts, said: “It was great to make an appearance at the popular Preston Egg Roll with our ‘CANvas’ installation designed by the brilliant Shawn Sharpe.
“The event was not only a great way to celebrate Easter but also to mark Earth Day, which is all about encouraging worldwide action to help benefit the environment and preserve the planet.
“Aluminum, including drink cans and the foil wrapper from Easter eggs, is infinitely recyclable so it’s important to dispose of it properly this Eastertime and beyond!
“What’s more, every empty drink can could also be recycled and back on a shop shelf as a brand-new can in just 60 days. So, every action, no matter how small, really does add up to help make a big difference.”
Shawn, who also runs mural workshops for children and adults in Preston, said: “It has been interesting because I don’t get nervous when I paint…but because it is my first live painting in Preston, I didn’t really know what the response from the public was going to be like. [They have been] really engaging, humbling, and it’s nice to see that a lot of people know what’s happening within the City.”
You can learn more about Shawn’s work on his Facebook page.
