This summer, we made festival season greener than ever! Our team of recycling ambassadors hit the road with a mission: to show you that your small actions (like recycling your drink cans) add up to make a huge difference! And the results speak for themselves – together, we recycled more than 75,000 aluminium cans at some of the UK’s biggest music events.
Taking Recycling on Tour
From Latitude and Download Festival, to our debut appearances at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, LIDO Festival, Victorious, and Radio 2 in the Park, our passionate team of ambassadors was out in force throughout the summer.
Armed with our iconic can-shaped recycling backpacks, our team aimed to make recycling easy and fun for thousands of festival goers. Our can cage installations and voting bins also provided a powerful visual reminder for everyone to recycle their empty cans responsibly.
This summer also saw us team up with amazing brand partners like Most Wanted Wines and Red Bull, helping us to reach even more people and spread the message about the importance of recycling drink cans.
Meet Canzee: Our New Recycling Icon
But festivals aren’t just about recycling; they’re about creating unforgettable memories too. That’s where Canzee – our mascot made from 400 recycled cans – came in. Canzee entertained crowds, posed for endless selfies, and even joined performers on stage. He became a firm fan favourite and a true festival icon!
Rewards for Recycling
We also love rewarding people for making the right choice. At Download Festival, fans who filled a bag with empty cans were treated to free Download-themed goodies, including branded T-shirts and keyrings. It’s our simple way of saying thanks for recycling and showing you the true value of recycling your empty cans!
Campsite Chats
Beyond the music and celebrations, our mission is to promote behaviour change and ensure that drink can recycling becomes second nature, no matter where you are! This summer, we collected over 7,000 survey responses, with festival goers telling us they want more recycling points in places like beaches, streets, and shopping centres. Over half (51%) said they’d recycle more outside the home if facilities were easier to find.
A Step Towards a 100% Recycling Rate
Our programme manager, Chris Latham-Warde, said:
“It’s been another incredible summer working alongside leading festivals, event organisers, and our drinks brand partners across the UK and Ireland to highlight the value of recycling.
“With the energy of festival goers and the commitment of our ambassador team, we’ve collected and recycled more than 75,000 cans nationwide, while also encouraging thousands of people to embrace recycling as part of their everyday routine.
“Each can that’s recycled can be back on shelves in as little as 60 days and by working together, we can enjoy more planet-friendly festivals and move closer to achieving our ambition of a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.”
Feeling Inspired? Here’s How You Can Keep Making Every Can Count All Year Long!
If you spotted the Every Can Counts team at a festival this summer and feel inspired to do your bit, here are some simple ways to keep the eco-friendly festival spirit alive all year round:
- Recycle on the go: Always pop your empty drink cans into a recycling bin. If you can’t find one, hold on to them until you do – or take them home to recycle.
- Be prepared outdoors: Heading to a picnic, beach, or campsite? Bring bags so you can separate your recycling from your general waste.
- Start recycling at work or in your community: If your workplace, school, or organisation doesn’t yet recycle drink cans, we can help! Order a free Every Can Counts starter pack and set up a collection point.
- Spread the word: Remember, aluminium recycles forever. A drink can you recycle today could be back on the shelf in just 60 days. Share the message with friends and family and encourage them to recycle their cans wherever they are.
Together, we can turn small everyday actions into big change. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us this summer!
