Every year we find new ways to inspire you to recycle your empty drink cans. And 2024 shaped up to be bigger and better than ever!
From vibrant, eye-catching installations in bustling city centres to an adrenaline-fueled podium finish at the Red Bull Soapbox Race, we ensured that drink can recycling took centre stage throughout 2024. Our mission was clear: raise awareness about the power of drink can recycling and inspire positive behaviour change across the country.
Let’s take a look at what we did to make every can count in 2024…
Our Installations & Exhibitions
The Infinity Room Goes Xploring…
We went to infinity and beyond in January when our #EveryCanCounts ‘Infinity Room’ landed at Xplore! Science Discovery Centre in Wrexham.
Made up of 1,500 recycled cans and 25 square metres of mirrors, the focal point is a giant drink can and those who step inside will find themselves in a mirrored room that creates the illusion of being surrounded by an infinite number of suspended aluminium cans. At the same time, a narrator takes people on an educational journey through aluminium can recycling and its environmental benefits.
A CAN-tastic Earth Day in Leeds
In April, we unveiled a giant rainbow installation outside of Leeds Station to commemorate Earth Day! Made from over 2,500 recycled cans, our Rainbow installation acted as a reminder that your small actions CAN make a big impact on our planet. By recycling just one aluminium drink you could save enough energy to power your laptop for 4 hours. So for #EarthDay 2024 we wanted to remind you that although your drink can is small, your actions really add up to paint a bigger picture… much like the 2,500 drink cans which make up our colourful archway!
Read more about the Rainbow’s exhibition in Leeds here!
A Giant Polar Bear Prowled Bristol City Centre
As part of our fourth annual International Recycling Tour, a giant polar bear installation made of recycled aluminium cans appeared on Bristol’s Centre Promenade on June 5th to mark World Environment Day!
Made from 2,000 cans, the PixelCan artwork was created to shine a light on species which are currently endangered or vulnerable due to ecosystem degradation.
Alongside the stunning art piece, our dedicated ambassadors were also at the promenade, embodying our mission to promote the recycling of drink cans consumed outside the home and inviting the public to recycle their empty cans on the go.
Read more about the 2024 instalment of the International Recycling Tour here.
Our Summer at Events and Festivals
From the thrills of the Red Bull Soapbox Race to the rock anthems of Download Festival and 2000trees, a total of 62 recycling ambassadors hit the road this summer to spread the Every Can Counts message at festivals and events across the UK. And this summer we helped festival goers across the UK and Ireland recycle over 100,000 cans – a 59% year-on-year increase!
We pulled out all the stops to engage attendees with our fun and educational activities, including drink can collections in our iconic recycling backpacks, cage installations, festival-themed “voting bins” and offering rewards for recycling drink cans at Download Festival, Latitude Festival and Electric Picnic.
Want to learn more about our summer? Click here to read our dedicated blog post!
Infinite Possibilities in London’s Piccadilly Circus
It wouldn’t be Recycle Week without some Every Can Counts magic! And this year we brought a brand new installation to Piccadilly Circus to mark the occasion.
The Infinity Sculpture, made from more than 1,200 recycled drink cans, was created to illustrate the life cycle of a drink can and show that aluminium can be recycled time and time again. Alongside the unveiling of our new sculpture, our ‘canny mascot’- adorned head to toe in more than 300 recycled drink cans – captured the attention of passers-by, while our recycling ambassadors helped us to spread the recycling message throughout the day.
Learn more about our brand new installation.
Celebrating 15 Years of Every Can Counts
Back in September, we celebrated 15 years of Every Can Counts!
We were first established in Birmingham as a workplace recycling scheme back in 2009 and 15 years later Every Can Counts is now active in 21 countries across the world, including Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and, most recently, the United States.
Click here to learn more about our 15th anniversary – from our humble beginnings to our ambitions for the future!
Our 2024 Recycling Superheroes
Every year we celebrate the incredible people and groups across the UK who are going the extra mile to make their empty cans count. In recognition of their sustainability efforts and ongoing commitment to recycling drink cans, we awarded our Green Can Award to the Aluminium Can Recyclers for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and Recycle For Kicks Count.
Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Green Can Award winner? Apply on our website today!
It’s a Highland Cow!
On a chilly weekday in November, we unveiled a brand new PixelCan design in collaboration with Keep Scotland Beautiful and the University of Strathclyde as part of No Lectures: Sort It, Recycle It.
Students voted for their favourite artwork via an in-person vote at the university in October and a poll on Instagram. After deciding on the design of a colourful Highland Cow, around 2,000 cans were used to create the piece of artwork at Rottenrow Gardens on Wednesday 20 November. Students and members of the public then helped us paint and build our new art installation, displayed in Glasgow’s Rottenrow Gardens to raise awareness about the importance of recycling your empty drink cans.
2025… We’re Ready!
As the new year rolls around, we’re now looking ahead to 2025 where we’ve got even more exciting campaigns, partnerships, and initiatives on the horizon. So get ready for another year of recycling fun and together we can take the next steps in our journey towards a 100% recycling rate for drink cans!
Make sure to follow us on social media for updates on our latest activities as the year unfolds!