Every Can Counts Rainbow

  • Phoebe Kelly

What is Earth Day & Why We’ve Brought a Giant Rainbow to Leeds

What is Earth Day & Why We’ve Brought a Giant Rainbow to Leeds 2560 1712 Phoebe Kelly

Our giant rainbow installation has been unveiled outside of Leeds Station to commemorate Earth Day 2024!

The four-by-seven metre structure is made from more than 2,500 recycled cans and has been created to raise awareness about the importance of recycling.

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow was revealed on Friday 19th April and will be on display outside the station by City Square until Monday night which ties into this year’s Earth Day.

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day is an annual event which falls on the 22nd April each year and focuses on diversifying, educating, and activating the environmental movement worldwide.

Why Do We Celebrate Earth Day?

Working with over 150,000 partners in over 192 countries – including ourselves – Earth Day hopes to inspire individuals to yield their power and influence as consumers by making more sustainable choices.

Last year, over 9 billion drink cans were recycled in the UK—the equivalent of covering Elland Road’s football pitch with drink cans almost a million times over. Moreover, recycling one tonne of aluminium saves nine tonnes of CO2 emissions, meaning that in 2023, the carbon savings generated by recycling drink cans equated to taking over 246,500 cars off the road.

Why Are We Celebrating Earth Day in Leeds?

According to our new research, Leeds residents drink an average of five cans a week, of which people say they recycle around 74%.

Even though half (54%) say they are more aware of environmental issues than they were 12 months ago, 41% admit that they put recyclable items in refuse bins if recycling facilities aren’t available.

Furthermore, the biggest barrier locals face whilst recycling is the lack of recycling bins in public places (68%), followed by the desire for more recyclable packaging (45%) and clearer signage on recycling bins (40%).

Half (54%) also agree that more needs to be done to educate young people about the importance of recycling.

So… What Can You Do to Help?

In Leeds, eye-catching yellow recycling-on-the-go bins for drinking cans can be found across the city centre and in town centres including Chapel Allerton, Headingley, Garforth, Morley, Otley and Wetherby. This makes it easier than ever for all residents to recycle all they can when out and about as well as at home in their green bins, helping Leeds’ ambition to ultimately become a carbon-neutral city by 2030.

In 2023/24, 398 tonnes of aluminium were collected from the green and recycling-on-the-go high street bins, the equivalent of over 28 million drink cans. If every Leeds household put two more drink cans in their green bin every collection, there would be another 19 million cans recycled in Leeds each year.

Last month also saw 10,000 more Leeds households move on to fortnightly collections, aimed at supporting and encouraging increased recycling. A further 20,000 more are due to move on to weekly collections from early summer.

We want our Rainbow installation to act 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 this #EarthDay we want you to remember that although your drink can might be small, your actions really add up to paint a bigger picture… much like the 2,500 drink cans which make up our colourful archway!

How You Can Get Involved in Earth Day 2024!

Alongside the new installation, we are also giving away a £150 Trinity Leeds Gift Card to one lucky winner. To enter the competition, entrants must post a photo of the rainbow in Leeds on Instagram, Facebook, or X before midnight on Thursday 25th April, using the #EveryCanCounts hashtag and tagging our social media channels.

The full competition T&Cs can be found here.

What We Had to Say…

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “We’re delighted to see our rainbow installation make its Leeds debut to mark Earth Day this year and look forward to seeing the photography locals capture as part of our competition!

“As well as brightening up the city centre, we hope our installation reminds people about the benefits of recycling their drink cans and makes them feel empowered to make sustainable choices.

“Aluminium can be recycled time and time again, and making cans from recycled metal uses 95% less energy than making them from raw materials. The people of Leeds can play their part in this process by ensuring their empty cans end up in the right bin, allowing this valuable material to remain in circulation.”  

Councillor Paul Wray, Leeds City Council deputy executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space at Leeds City Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see this striking rainbow arch in Leeds to celebrate Earth Day, hopefully it will get people talking about what more they can recycle to look after the planet.

“If we can all pledge to recycle our drink cans when we’re out and about, or at home in the green recycling bin, then these small changes can make a huge difference for the city and the planet.”

  • Phoebe Kelly

Small Can, Big Picture: Our 2023 in Review

Small Can, Big Picture: Our 2023 in Review 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

We spread the Every Can Counts message far and wide in 2023, from art installations in city centres to activations at some of the UK’s biggest festivals and sports events.

It’s all part of our mission to inspire, encourage and empower people to recycle their empty cans – wherever they are.

Here’s an in-depth look at how we translated that mission into actions in 2023…

Our Installations & Exhibitions

The Infinity Room Goes on Tour

We started 2023 with a bang in January by exhibiting the #EveryCanCounts ‘Infinity Room’ at Dundee Science Centre.

Our immersive Infinity Room installation is shaped like a giant drink can and made using 1,500 smaller cans. The interior contains 25 square metres of mirrors and creates the illusion of a never-ending sea of aluminum cans, bringing to life the infinite potential of aluminium recycling. As you step inside, a narrator takes you on an educational journey highlighting the importance of recycling drink cans and the positive impact this small action can have on the planet.

The installation spent the summer at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes, before moving to W5 Interactive Discovery Centre in Belfast ahead of National Recycle Week in October.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow in York

In celebration of Global Recycling Day (Saturday 18th March), we brought our iconic rainbow archway – made from over 2,500 recycled cans – to York city centre! The seven-metre-wide archway spent a week on display in Exhibition Square, in front of York Art Gallery, brightly highlighting the importance of popping empty cans into the right bin.

Read more about the Rainbow’s exhibition in York here!

The CANvas in Covent Garden

To celebrate Earth Day, we teamed up with Covent Garden and renowned street artist Jimmy C to create a unique art installation made from over 700 repurposed drink cans; the #EveryCanCounts CANvas.

Jimmy C drew in the crowds as he painted the wall of cans live in Covent Garden’s North Piazza, creating an Earth-themed artwork that inspired passers-by to do their bit for the planet.

The artist then returned a week later to create a second design on a new CANvas of recycled cans. This time the artwork featured a crown, to mark the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. This coronation-themed CANvas remained in Covent Garden for five weeks, becoming a popular photo opportunity for the many visitors to this busy London district.

A PixelCan Wall of Art for World Environment Day

To celebrate World Environment Day, we participated in the International Recycling Tour – an annual Every Can Counts event spanning 20 cities in 16 countries.

The International Recycling Tour is an opportunity for all the Every Can Counts programmes around the world to come together with a coordinated campaign. The mission is simple: inspiring people to recycle their empty drink cans and keep public spaces clean.

In the UK, we kicked things off in style with an eye-catching display at the Mighty Hoopla Festival in Brockwell Park. 2,000 recycled drink cans were transformed into a stunning, nature-inspired PixelCan wall of art, while a team of ECC ambassadors roamed the site collecting cans and engaging with festival goers.

Read more about the 2023 instalment of the International Recycling Tour here.

Our Summer at Events and Festivals

Each year our recycling ambassadors hit the road to spread the Every Can Counts message at festivals and events – and 2023 was no exception! Our team headed to 12 major events across the UK this summer, from the thrills of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix to the rock anthems of Download Festival in Donington Park.

We pulled out all the stops to engage attendees with our fun and educational activities. And with our recycling backpacks, can cages, and voting bins, we helped keep the party going while keeping the planet happy!

Our Every Can Counts Soapbox, which participated in the 2022 Red Bull Soapbox Race in London, proved to be a star of the show. Revamped for 2023 with an electric motor and a new body made from recycled aluminium, our soapbox continued to turn heads wherever it went.

And a special shout out to our drink brand partners – Pernod Ricard UK, Red Bull, Most Wanted Wines, White Claw Hard Seltzer, and Canned Wine Co – who joined forces with us to spread the Every Can Counts message at several festivals and events throughout the summer.  

If you’d like to learn more about our summer of recycling fun, click here to read our dedicated blog post!

Our 2023 Green Can Award Winners

A massive congratulations to Bodega 51 Can Bar and Haileybury School who each received a Green Can Award in 2023, in recognition of their sustainability efforts and ongoing commitment to recycling drink cans.

Students at Haileybury School were rewarded with a workshop led by social enterprise, Casting Innovations. During this workshop they learned about the infinite recyclability of aluminium, as well as the melting process, and were able to make their own keyring from recycled aluminium.  

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Green Can Award winner? Apply on our website today!   

Or if you’re looking for some inspiration to start your own recycling scheme, click here to read about some of the incredible initiatives who are using drink can recycling to raise funds for charitable causes.

2024 here we come!

We’re now cooking up a storm of exciting plans for the year ahead and working on brand new installations and activities to take our message further than ever before! Get ready to be inspired as we take the next steps on 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!

  • 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

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow Appears in Liverpool Ahead of Recycle Week

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow Appears in Liverpool Ahead of Recycle Week 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

The #EveryCanCounts rainbow installation has appeared in Williamson Square in Liverpool city centre ahead of the start of Recycle Week (17th – 23rd October).

Dog Bruno poses for a photo near the #EveryCanCounts rainbow.

Every Can Counts has partnered with Liverpool BID Company to bring the colourful archway, made from over 2,500 recycled cans, to the city centre to raise awareness around the importance of recycling and inspire more people to recycle their empty drink cans.

According to Every Can Counts’ research of Liverpool residents, 72% say they are becoming more conscious of the environment and their impact on it. What’s more, nearly eight in 10 (79%) already think that recycling their household waste is ‘very important’.

Amongst Liverpudlians, the biggest barriers to recycling are the lack of recycling bins in public places (cited by 43% of respondents) and confusion about what packaging is and isn’t recyclable (25%).  

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “Our rainbow installation has toured a number of cities across the UK and we’re thrilled to now bring it to Liverpool to mark Recycle Week. The archway will be on display in Williamson Square all week and we’re looking forward to seeing all the creative and fun photos people take with it.

The message behind the installation is that we can all make a difference by recycling our empty drink cans. Our research shows that a quarter of Liverpudlians are unsure what packaging is and isn’t recyclable. The good news is that when it comes to drink cans, it’s really straightforward! Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and every recycled can could be back on a shop shelf as a brand new can in just 60 days. But this only happens when we play our part in the process and put our empty cans in the right bin. So we’re here to encourage people in Liverpool to recycle every single one of their empty cans, so that this valuable material stays in circulation.”

Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company, said: “Liverpool BID Company is committed to ensuring our city is always improving and we believe that sustainability, including recycling, is a big part of that and a habit we should all be making an effort to embrace.

“We’re pleased to be working with Every Can Counts on its wonderful rainbow can sculpture and have no doubt it will add a bit of colour to the city centre, while highlighting an important message.”

Passers-by have all week, until the evening of Friday 21st, to come and snap a picture with the installation and enter a social media photo competition for the chance to win a £150 Flannels gift card. To enter, take a snap of the rainbow and upload it to social media using #EveryCanCounts and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK (Instagram/Facebook) or @EveryCanCounts (Twitter). For full prize draw details visit: www.everycancounts.co.uk/liverpool

Charlotte Rycraft, age 2, has fun under the #EveryCanCounts rainbow.
A giant rainbow is placed in Williamson Square in Liverpool, Merseyside, for the start of Recycle Week 2022.
  • Phoebe Kelly

Looking Back on a CANtastic Summer of Recycling Fun!

Looking Back on a CANtastic Summer of Recycling Fun! 2560 1920 Phoebe Kelly

Ah the hazy memories of summer recycling fun…

From rocking out with metalheads at Download Festival, to discovering the mysteries of Lost Village Festival, we have spread the recycling word far and wide this summer and met some incredible people along the way. Watch the video below to see us rock out at our first festival of the season:

We collected cans trackside at the Formula 1 and MotoGP races at Silverstone and found ourselves on the track itself at the Red Bull Soapbox Race! At music festivals we offered t-shirts and keyrings made from recycled cans as recycling rewards and we decorated festival goers (and sometimes ourselves) in recycling themed temporary tattoos.

And let’s not forget about our iconic can cages! Don’t be mistaken, those beautiful cages don’t stay spotless by themselves. Behind the scenes our team have been emptying those cages and bagging up your cans, ready to be taken away and recycled.

But now, after an unforgettable summer of can recycling fun, we’re saying goodbye to festival life for another year. Will we miss emptying those juicy cages? Probably not. But will we miss seeing you guys proactively recycling your cans and filling them up every day? Absolutely!

Here’s a taste of the recycling fun that we’ve had this summer:

Download Festival:
The one where we created the iconic Download Dog PixelCan and everyone flocked to our gazebo to claim their recycling rewards.

Stendhal Festival:
Our first one in Northern Ireland, a.k.a the one in the rain… But that didn’t stop our team from getting out and about and filling up their recycling backpacks!

Formula 1 British Grand Prix:
The one with the biggest crowd! With over 400,000 people attending across the weekend, our team were never short of people to chat to.

Red Bull Soapbox Race:
The one where we took to the racetrack and our drivers risked their lives in the name of can recycling! Click here to read more about our Soapbox experience.

2000trees Festival:
The one where we slept to the sound of heavy metal every night and met some incredible recycling heroes.

Latitude Festival:
The one where our team proved themselves by conquering the dust and the heat to spread the recycling word around the campsites and main arena.  

MotoGP British Grand Prix:
The one where our team roamed the circuit and spread the word that recycled cans might one day end up as an aluminium component in a motorbike!  

Wilderness Festival:
The boutique one where our team went into the wilderness to seek out those who were willing to embrace their wild side and recycle their cans in style.  

Boomtown Festival:
The one where you guys brought the fun to us in the blazing heat (and huddled under our gazebo to escape the sun).

Boardmasters Festival:
The one on the beach… We’re still finding sand in our can recycling backpacks to this day!

Big Feastival:
The one where we partnered with Canned Wine Co. to bring our can cages and a beautiful new-look design for our recycling backpacks to The Cotswolds.

Lost Village Festival:
The one where nothing was as it seemed. Our final festival and a time to say goodbye to a summer of can recycling fun! Watch the video below to see us in action at our final festival of the season:

Thank you to everyone who chatted, danced, laughed and recycled with our team. And thanks to all the festivals and events who have welcomed us on site this summer!

We hope our team left you all with some lasting memories so that when you finish a drink from an aluminium can, you’ll remember to pop it in the recycling bin wherever you are.

  • ChrisUK

Making A Sustainable Platinum Jubilee with Every Can Counts

Making A Sustainable Platinum Jubilee with Every Can Counts 2508 1672 ChrisUK

We partnered with The Platinum Jubilee Pageant and Royal Parks to encourage people to recycle their empty drink cans during the Jubilee weekend. We brought two art installations and a team of recycling ambassadors to St James’s Park in London, right at the heart of the celebrations!

A Jubilee-themed wall of art created from 2,000 recycled cans was on display beside The Mall, in a location which proved to be a popular picnic spot thanks to the presence of a large screen broadcasting the Jubilee events. The iconic #EveryCanCounts Rainbow, created from over 2,500 recycled cans, was also on display near Horse Guard’s Parade, where it’s Instagram appeal was enhanced by a leafy green backdrop.

On the Saturday and Sunday our team of recycling ambassadors circulated through the crowds collecting empty cans and conducting recycling surveys. 6 Platinum Jubilee Pageant volunteers joined our team on the Sunday, helping us to collect more cans and spread our message even further.

This event was part of the Every Can Counts International Recycling Tour, which took place on the 3rd, 4th and 5th June. More than 100 recycling ambassadors roamed parks, cities, and beaches in 17 countries.

Every Can Counts teams were active in the following countries: Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Their mission? To encourage people to keep public outdoor spaces clean and recycle their drink cans wherever they are.

The tour was timed to coincide with World Environment Day on 5th June.

David van Heuverswyn, Director of Every Can Counts Europe, said: “Drink cans recycle forever. This is the main message of our tour and the reason why we are working to inspire behaviour change and help reach 100% can recycling in Europe and beyond. This ambitious target can only be reached if consumers, brands, event organisers and local communities join forces to recycle every drink can and build together a more sustainable planet.”

Thank you to everyone who recycled with us last weekend, whether in St James’s Park during the Jubilee celebrations or in one of the other 17 countries where Every Can Counts activities were taking place. Together we CAN make a difference!

Every Can Counts Recycling Ambassadors and Platinum Jubilee Pageant Volunteers pose by the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow.

  • ChrisUK

A Canny Earth Day 2022 In Newcastle

A Canny Earth Day 2022 In Newcastle 2560 1625 ChrisUK

Grey’s Monument has been made more colourful for Earth Day 2022 with the arrival of the Every Can Counts rainbow installation in Newcastle city centre.

The Every Can Counts Rainbow in Newcastle for Earth Day 2022
Photo of woman touching the The Every Can Counts Rainbow.
Photo of dog running past the Every Can Counts Rainbow in Newcastle for Earth Day 2022.

About the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow

The impressive rainbow arch, measuring four metres high and seven metres wide, is made up from over 2,500 recycled drink cans.

It was installed by Every Can Counts in collaboration with Newcastle City Council to bring awareness to the importance of can recycling around Earth Day 2022 (Friday 22nd April).

Recycling in Newcastle

According to Every Can Counts’ research, Geordies drink an average of six cans a week, of which people say they recycle around 70% of empty cans.

Even though nine in 10 Geordies surveyed say that they understand the benefits of recycling, more than a quarter (27 per cent) admit that they don’t recycle while out of the house.

Furthermore, 68% of people in Newcastle say they are more concerned about the environment and their impact on it than they were this time last year.

Residents suggest that more recyclable packaging and monetary incentives such as the planned deposit return scheme would encourage them to recycle more.

Every Can Counts & Earth Day 2022 Prize Draw

The rainbow will remain on display by Grey’s Monument until Sunday evening. People are invited to post a photo of the installation on social media for the chance to win £100 in shopping vouchers. Click here to find out more about our incredible prize draw!

What We Had to Say about the Rainbow’s Visit to Newcastle

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “Our rainbow installation has toured all over the UK and we’re so excited that it’s finally making its debut in Newcastle for Earth Day. This year, the theme is ‘Invest in our Planet’, and that message has never been so important.

“Each and every one of us can make a difference and recycling our empty drink cans is an example of a small habit we can all adopt that has a positive impact on the environment. All of the cans collected in Newcastle over the weekend could be recycled and refilled on shop shelves in just 60 days – and because every can is infinitely recyclable, the benefits of keeping that valuable aluminium in circulation keep adding up again and again!

“Recycling rates were at an all-time high during the national lockdowns and, now that restrictions have been lifted, it’s essential that we keep up the momentum. We hope our colourful rainbow pop-up this weekend will inspire the people of Newcastle to do just that!”

Christine Herriot, Newcastle City Council’s director of operations and regulatory services, added: “It’s fantastic to have this eye-catching rainbow art installation in the heart of our city this weekend, which will certainly get people talking and help spread the message about the importance of recycling.

“We know residents take great pride in having a clean and tidy city, which was demonstrated by the incredible turn out for the Great British Spring Clean.

“We thank all of the volunteers, businesses and community groups who played their part in helping us to tidy up their communities and it shows what we can achieve for our environment when we work together.

“It’s important everyone continues to take responsibility and dispose of their empty packaging properly. If there is not a public bin nearby, or you arrive at a bin that is already full, please take your litter home and recycle it there instead.

“We hope everyone enjoys having their pictures taken with this brilliant piece of artwork this weekend and remembers the important message behind it.”

The Every Can Counts Rainbow in Newcastle for Earth Day 2022

Click here to find out more about Earth Day 2022.

  • Phoebe Kelly

Visit the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in Covent Garden for Global Recycling Day 2022

Visit the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in Covent Garden for Global Recycling Day 2022 2560 2194 Phoebe Kelly

The colourful recycled art installation is spending two weeks on display in the Covent Garden Piazza to celebrate Global Recycling Day 2022.

We’ve partnered with Covent Garden London to bring The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow to one of the capital’s most iconic and busiest locations.

The eye-catching installation, created from over 2,500 recycled cans, will be on display in the Covent Garden Piazza until the 30th of March. The signage surrounding the installation invites people to learn about the infinite life cycle of drink cans and passers-by can also recycle their empty cans in the ‘pots of gold’ at each end of the rainbow.

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow Arrives in Covent Garden

The installation was unveiled in Covent Garden on Thursday 17th March, ahead of Global Recycling Day 2022 on the 18th. A team of Every Can Counts recycling ambassadors wearing can recycling backpacks also supported the launch of the campaign. The ambassadors conducted face-to-face recycling surveys with people during the first four days of the campaign, helping to communicate the benefits of can recycling and inspire positive behaviour change.

To help raise awareness of the campaign on social media, we’re inviting people to enter our #EveryCanCounts prize draw by taking a photo with the installation and posting it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. A £250 gift card and a Venchi 1kg chocolate egg are up for grabs! Full competition details can be found by clicking here.

What is Global Recycling Day?

Global Recycling Day falls on March 18 each year and aims to promote the vitality of recycling across the globe. It is a day for action, for the world to come together to put the planet first, and to change the mind-set of governments, businesses, communities and individuals around the world, to see recyclables as a resource.

Click here to find out more about Global Recycling Day 2022.

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in Glasgow
  • ChrisUK

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow Arrives in Glasgow for COP26

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow Arrives in Glasgow for COP26 2560 1863 ChrisUK

To mark COP26, the #EveryCanCounts rainbow archway is being displayed in Shawlands Civic Square in partnership with Glasgow City Council to remind people of the importance of recycling empty drink cans.

The eye-catching installation, in front of Langside Halls, is made from more than 2,500 brightly coloured recycled drink cans and measures four metres high and seven metres wide.

It took four people more than five hours to construct and will remain in place until 4th November to spread the recycling message over the first week of the climate change conference.

Recycling in Glasgow

  • Our own research suggests that more than 2.8 million drink cans are bought and used each week throughout Glasgow.
  • Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and recycling just one can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours.
  • If all of these cans were recycled, it would give greenhouse gas savings equivalent to taking more than 7,200 cars off the city’s roads for a week.
  • Eight in 10 of those questioned say they always use recycling bins if they are available in public places, with more than seven in 10 claiming that they would recycle more while out and about if there were a greater number of recycling bins.
  • In fact, almost two thirds of Glaswegians say they have become more concerned about the environment and their impact on it over the last 12 months. Half believe this is due to Glasgow’s involvement in the conference.  

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said:

“The rainbow is our way of reminding people about the importance of recycling cans at a time when the environment is firmly on the city’s agenda.

“Recycling an empty drink can is such an easy thing that each of us can do to help the planet. It might not seem like much, but every can is endlessly recyclable and making a can from recycled metal rather than raw materials uses 95% less energy and produces 95% less greenhouse gas emissions.

“In 2020, a record four out of five drink cans sold in the UK were recycled, given peoples’ lifestyles changed dramatically and we spent much of the year in lockdown. We want to continue making progress now the country has opened back up and our ultimate goal is to achieve a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.”

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction at Glasgow City Council, said:

“This installation is a reminder of the importance of recycling, and the significant environmental benefits it brings.  We can all play our part in reducing emissions by recycling as much as we can.”

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, said:

I am thrilled to see the Every Can Counts rainbow in my constituency. It acts as a key reminder of the importance of recycling more and keeping our streets tidy over the course of the landmark COP26 Summit and beyond.

I’m looking forward to seeing people share their photos of this impressive rainbow sculpture, whilst remembering the message behind it. Shifting towards infinitely recyclable materials like aluminium and keeping these materials in circulation by recycling is something we can all do to progress towards a truly circular economy, and to meet the aims of this pivotal Summit in Glasgow.

Visit the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow for COP26

The rainbow makes for an ideal photo backdrop, and Every Can Counts is running a social media photo competition offering the chance to win a £100 shopping voucher and a £500 donation to an environmental charity of your choice. To enter, take a snap of the rainbow and upload it to social media using #COP26Glasgow and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK on Facebook/Instagram or @EveryCanCounts on Twitter.

What is COP26?

COP26 is the 2021 United Nations climate change conference. For nearly 30 years the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits. These are known as COPs – which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. In that time climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global priority.

This year will be the 26th annual summit, therefore giving it then name COP26. If you want to find out more about COP26, you can visit the website here: https://ukcop26.org/

Every Can Counts at Birmingham Pride 2021
  • ChrisUK

RECYCLE WEEK PART 2: BIRMINGHAM PRIDE

RECYCLE WEEK PART 2: BIRMINGHAM PRIDE 1200 1600 ChrisUK

Every Can Counts partners with Bullring & Grand Central and Birmingham Hippodrome to celebrate Birmingham Pride and encourage everyone taking part in the celebrations to recycle their empty cans.

The #EveryCan Counts Rainbow, created from over 2,500 recycled cans, has arrived in Birmingham city centre. The installation appeared on Central Street outside the Bullring overnight on Thursday 23rd September and will be on display until the close of Birmingham’s Pride 2021 celebrations on Sunday 26th September.

Kicking off the weekend celebrations, the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow received a special welcome on Friday afternoon from glam disco king Boogaloo Stu on the snail stage and a drive time takeover with Gaydio. An Every Can Counts team of recycling ambassadors are in action around the rainbow installation all weekend collecting cans and spreading the recycling message.

The rainbow’s arrival in Birmingham means that the installation has visited the UK’s two largest cities during Recycle Week 2021. From St Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of London to the centre of Birmingham in time for the Pride celebrations, we’re having a CANtastic week raising awareness about the benefits of can recycling and inspiring people to recycle more!

The rainbow makes for an ideal photo backdrop, and we’re running a social media photo competition offering the chance to win a £250 shopping voucher. To enter, take a snap of the rainbow and upload it to social media using #EveryCanCounts and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK (Instagram/Facebook) or @EveryCanCounts (Twitter). For full competition terms & conditions visit: www.everycancounts.co.uk/recycleweek2021.




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