every can counts

  • Phoebe Kelly

How We Made 2024 the Year to Recycle Cans Wherever You Are

How We Made 2024 the Year to Recycle Cans Wherever You Are 2560 1440 Phoebe Kelly

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!

  • Phoebe Kelly

Recycle Week 2024: Discover the Message Behind Our Infinity Sculpture

Recycle Week 2024: Discover the Message Behind Our Infinity Sculpture 2560 1724 Phoebe Kelly

We’ve unveiled a giant art installation in London’s Piccadilly Circus to highlight the importance of recycling and celebrate Recycle Week 2024!

The Infinity Sculpture, made from more than 1,200 recycled drink cans, has been created to illustrate the life cycle of a drink can and show that aluminium can be recycled time and time again.   

The can-made artwork will be on display by the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain at Piccadilly Circus until Friday 18th October to mark Recycle Week (14th – 20th October). This is the first time the installation has been unveiled, with plans for it to visit more locations around the country next year.

What Is Recycle Week?

Recycle Week is an annual celebration of recycling which aims to encourage the public across the UK to recycle more of the right things, more often. Hosted by the recycling charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), Recycle Week encourages businesses, local authorities, and community groups to all come together to promote the importance of waste reduction.

If you’d like to find out more, you can visit WRAP’s website by clicking here.

Our Canny Mascot Returns

A ‘canny mascot’, adorned head to toe in more than 300 recycled drink cans, also captured the attention of passers by on the day the installation was unveiled (Monday 14th October), while recycling ambassadors collected empty cans in their recycling backpacks.            

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “This infinity sculpture is a brand-new artwork for us, and where better to reveal it than one of London’s most recognisable locations during Recycle Week.

“As well as being visually impressive, the installation spreads the important message that aluminium can be recycled time and time again – from empty cans being crushed and melted down to solid aluminium, through to life as a brand new drink can ready to be filled, enjoyed, and recycled all over again.

“Every empty drink can could be recycled and back on a shop shelf in as little as 60 days. The people of London can play their part in this process by having a ‘can do’ attitude towards recycling – ensuring all their empty cans end up in the right bin means this valuable material will remain in circulation.” 

Every Can Counts’ rainbow installation artwork, also made from recycled cans, has previously visited towns and cities across the UK to inspire drink can recycling.

How You Can Get Involved!

We’re giving away a £200 One4All Gift Card to one lucky winner! To enter our prize draw, entrants must post a photo of the Infinity Sculpture on Instagram, Facebook, or X before midnight on Sunday 20th October, using the #EveryCanCounts hashtag and tagging our social media channels.

The full competition T&Cs can be found here.

  • Phoebe Kelly

100,000 Cans & Counting: An Every Can Counts Summer

100,000 Cans & Counting: An Every Can Counts Summer 2560 1920 Phoebe Kelly

29 days , 62 recycling ambassadors and over 100,000 drink cans collected for recycling… Our summer of events has officially come to an end for another year!

And this summer, we’ve helped festival goers across the UK and Ireland recycle over 100,000 cans – a 59% year on year increase – while spreading the word about the importance of recycling.

Festival Fun: Recycling on the Go

Outdoor events and festivals are synonymous with summer, and this year, we made sure that Every Can Counts was at the heart of the action. We partnered with several major events and festivals to help spread the recycling message far and wide. Here are some highlights from each event:

The International Recycling Tour: Bristol City Centre

Our summer kicked off with the fourth installation of our International Recycling Tour, where we brought a giant polar bear installation made of recycled aluminium cans to mark World Environment Day.

Alongside the PixelCan, 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.

Click here to learn more about the PixelCan installation which appeared in Bristol.

Download Festival

We then headed to Donnington Park to spread the recycling message with one of our favourite crowds at Download Festival!

Our recycling ambassadors engaged with more than 2500 people, while festival-goers recycled over 30,000 cans in exchange for our #EveryCanCounts rewards, including our iconic ‘Metal Never Dies’ t-shirts and our Download keyrings made from recycled aluminium. And let’s not forget that thousands more cans were recycled in our voting bins and can-shaped backpacks!

The Red Bull Soapbox Race

We entered the #RedBullSoapboxRace to raise awareness about the importance of recycling drink cans… but we never imagined we’d end up on the podium! At this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race in London, we placed third, beating 55 other teams with our aptly named Chitty Chitty Can Can to claim the bronze medal.

Our soapbox, our costumes and even our dance routine aimed to inspire people with the magic of can recycling, and we were blown away by the reception we received from the crowds at Ally Pally!

Click here to learn more about our journey to the podium at the soapbox race.

Stendhal Festival

Our team of recycling ambassadors returned to Stendhal Festival in Limavady, Northern Ireland. They brought their enthusiasm to the festival grounds as they interacted with attendees while carrying their iconic recycling backpacks and sparking meaningful conversations about the importance of recycling. We also brought our ‘I Heart Recycling’ can cages to the festival, providing a powerful visual reminder for everyone to responsibly recycle their empty cans.

2000trees

We returned to 2000Trees in July where everyone continued to show us their commitment to recycling by consistently filling our can cages throughout the festival! Over 12,000 cans were collected in our ‘I Heart Recycling’ cages and over 500 people took the time to stop and chat with our team of ambassadors who were roaming around the site to spread the Every Can Counts message.

Our recycling rewards were also a huge hit at 2000Trees, as many people rocked their recycling-themed temporary tattoos across the weekend.

Latitude Festival

Not only did we unveil a brand-new set of can cages, but we also brought our canny mascots to life at Latitude 2024! Adorned in over 300 drink cans, our canny mascots made quite the impression as they danced, hugged, and high-fived their way into everybody’s hearts!

An incredible 1500 people took part in our recycling questionnaire, with even more people getting into the recycling spirit and chatting to our team around the festival.

Putting the Fun into Recycling

At each event, our passionate team of recycling ambassadors collected drink cans using a variety of creative and innovative methods including:

  • Recycling rewards—We gave festival-goers at Download, Latitude and Electric Picnic the opportunity to win a special edition t-shirt or a keyring made from recycled aluminium by bringing our recycling ambassadors a bag of cans ready to be recycled!
  • Temporary tattoos – we offered recycling-themed tattoos to all the recycling superheroes at our events!
  • Fun ways to recycle your empty drink cans – we gave people the opportunity to cast a vote for their favourite headliner by recycling their cans in our voting bins. We also brought our iconic ‘I Heart Recycling’ cages to the Soapbox Race, Stendhal and 2000Trees; while the Latitude crowd could recycle their cans in our brand new LATITUDE recycling cages!
  • Our canny mascots – our recycling ambassadors took turns to wander around the site at the Red Bull Soapbox Race and Latitude in an iconic suit made from over 300 cans.
  • Our motorised soapbox – maybe you saw our eye-catching half-can, half-plane aluminium soapbox driving around the campsite villages at Download and Latitude to spread the recycling message!

Our Recycling Questionnaire

In addition to recycling drink cans, the ambassadors also gathered over 6,700 responses for Every Can Counts’ recycling survey, with the results revealing that festival goers would recycle more when they’re away from home if there were more recycling points.

Beaches and green spaces, streets, and shopping centres were named the top locations where people feel more drink can recycling points are needed.

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager at Every Can Counts, said: “It’s been a fantastic summer working with major festivals and event organisers across the UK and Ireland, as well as our drink brand partners, to raise awareness about the importance of recycling.

“Thanks to the enthusiasm of festival goers and our dedicated team of ambassadors, we’ve not only recycled over 100,000 cans across the UK, but also hopefully inspired thousands to make recycling a part of their daily lives.

“Every can that is recycled can be back on the shelf in 60 days and if we work together, we can all enjoy greener festivals while getting closer to our goal of a 100% drink can recycling rate.”

Looking Ahead: Help Us To Keep The Cycle Going

If you came across the Every Can Counts team this summer and are now feeling inspired to make a difference, here’s a reminder of a few things you can do to make your empty cans count:

  1. Recycle your drink cans while you’re out and about. If there is no recycling bin around, hold on to your cans until you find one, or take them home and recycle them there.
  2. If you’re camping or picnicking in the great outdoors, bring some bags with you to separate your recycling from your general waste.  
  3. If you work or volunteer at an organisation without drink can recycling facilities, we can help you do something about it! Request a free Every Can Counts starter pack here to set up a can collection point.
  4. Help us spread the Every Can Counts message! Remember that aluminium recycles forever, and drink cans have the potential to go around the recycling loop in just 60 days. Help us get the word out there to those who don’t know and encourage everyone to recycle their cans on-the-go!

But the fun doesn’t stop here! We have plenty of exciting things planned for the coming months, with more events and initiatives in the pipeline. Together, we can continue to make a difference and make sure that every can really does count.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this summer!

  • Phoebe Kelly

Giant Polar Bear Installation Prowls Bristol City Centre

Giant Polar Bear Installation Prowls Bristol City Centre 2560 1703 Phoebe Kelly

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.

Our team of ambassadors worked hard to raise awareness about the importance of recycling drink cans while collecting cans in their recycling backpacks.

The International Recycling Tour

The polar bear installation forms part of the fourth edition of our annual International Recycling Tour, which also launched on World Environment Day following new data revealing that a record 10.7 billion cans were recycled in the UK in 2023.

The tour aims to highlight the importance of drink can recycling in saving valuable resources and mitigating climate change.

This year, the tour has made a bold visual statement with its PixelCan artworks of endangered animals including a sea turtle, tiger, and chimpanzee, alongside the polar bear in Bristol.

Encouraging individuals across the globe to become #GenerationRestoration, the initiative is taking place simultaneously in 16 cities including Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Click here to learn more about the International Recycling Tour!  

David Van Heuverswyn, Director of Every Can Counts Global, said: “Our vision is to achieve 100% global drink can recycling! Every can recycled can be back on the shelf in 60 days, and campaigns like the International Recycling Tour bring us one step closer to this vision, demonstrating the power of collective action in creating a truly circular economy for the benefit of both people and nature.

“Here in Bristol, we’re proud to celebrate our tour for the first time with a unique polar bear PixelCan installation to tie into World Environment Day.”

Every Can Counts is a unique partnership formed between drink can manufacturers, drink can fillers and the wider recycling industry, all with the goal of reaching a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.

The programme provides free recycling support to businesses and organisations throughout Ireland and around the globe, reaching 183.5 million people worldwide in 2023 alone and helping recycle over 55 million drink cans through event activations and partnerships.

  • Phoebe Kelly

Record Breaking Recycling in 2023: The Latest Drink Can Recycling Rate

Record Breaking Recycling in 2023: The Latest Drink Can Recycling Rate 2000 1334 Phoebe Kelly

According to new data, a record 10.7 billion cans were recycled in the UK during 2023 – the highest number ever collected and the length of which would reach to the moon and back.

But what does this mean for the drink can recycling rate in the UK?

The Latest Aluminium Recycling Statistics in the UK

Alupro, the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation, have revealed the record-breaking stats following an analysis of Environment Agency figures.

They found over 162,000 tonnes of aluminium packaging were recycled in 2023 through kerbside, bring, and on-the-go recycling systems – a 13% year-on-year uplift and a 4% increase since the previous record in 2021.

Click here to read the full news release by Alupro announcing the 2023 UK aluminium packaging recycling rates.

For aluminium drink cans specifically, 81% were recycled in 2023 and last summer, our dedicated team of recycling ambassadors collected and recycled more than 64,000 drink cans at events and festivals across the country, including Mighty Hoopla, Download Festival, and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

We plan to emulate this activity this year, with team members heading to a range of events to collect drink cans as part of our goal to one day achieve a 100% recycling rate for drink cans in the UK.  

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “These record-breaking figures show the positive impact we can have as a country when we all play our part in the recycling process.

“Big or small, every effort made by the public to dispose of their empty drink cans responsibly helps to inspire further progress and improve recycling rates both at home and on the go.

“Aluminium can be recycled time and time again without loss of quality, and every empty drink can that is recycled can be back on sale as a brand-new can in just 60 days. With World Environment Day just around the corner, we hope people feel inspired by the latest figures and continue to make recycling a priority.”

5 Incredible Facts About Drink Cans

  • The amount of cans recycled in 2023 (10.7 billion) translates to carbon savings equivalent to removing over 250,000 cars from the road for an entire year!
  • Drink cans are currently the UK’s most recycled beverage container.
  • Drink cans are able to be recycled, filled and back on a shop shelf in just 60 days, thanks to the efficient recycling infrastructure in place across Europe.
  • Aluminium (the metal that drink cans are made from) recycles forever!
  • Recycling drink cans uses 95% less energy than creating new ones from primary aluminium.

Learn More

Want to learn more about the drink can recycling process? Visit our dedicated web page which takes you through the life cycle of a humble drink can.

  • 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.”

Molson Coors Staff Volunteer as Every Can Counts Recycling Ambassadors at Download Festival
  • ChrisUK

Our New Partnership with Molson Coors

Our New Partnership with Molson Coors 1600 1200 ChrisUK

We’re excited to announce our latest brand partnership with one of the UK’s largest brewers, Molson Coors Beverage Company.

The partnership will see Molson Coors – which produces brands including Carling, Coors and Madrí Excepcional – collaborate with Every Can Counts, alongside drink can manufacturers and the wider recycling industry, to raise awareness of the importance of recycling drink cans at events and festivals.

Molson Coors will also become the first brewer to sign up to Every Can Counts as an annual UK funding partner, in support of our mission to increase recycling rates by inspiring and empowering people to recycle more of their empty cans at events and festivals across the UK.

In 2021 the brewer removed all single use plastic from its multipacks, switching to recyclable cardboard wraps and sleeves. The Coors brand was also the pioneer of the original two-piece recyclable aluminium beer can during the 1950s, replacing the original throwaway steel cans and paving the way for a circular economy for drinks containers.

Kate Macnamara, Corporate Affairs Director at Molson Coors, said: “Every Can Counts does brilliant work to encourage more recycling through positive messaging and engaging consumer initiatives, and we are proud to be a funding partner.

“We’re looking forward to working with Every Can Counts to support more eye-catching and innovative activations at festivals and events across the UK.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “It’s fantastic to kick off 2024 with a new partnership, especially one with a company as well known and globally recognised as Molson Coors.

“It’s great to see industry giants lead the way in encouraging their customers to recycle their drink cans at events and festivals and we’re looking forward to working with them to help raise awareness and inspire recycling across the nation.”

Molson Coors Staff Volunteer as Every Can Counts Recycling Ambassadors at Download Festival
Photo: Molson Coors staff volunteering as Every Can Counts Recycling Ambassadors at Download Festival.
  • 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!

  • Phoebe Kelly

Cash for Cans: A Creative Fundraising Solution For Your Cause

Cash for Cans: A Creative Fundraising Solution For Your Cause 2560 1715 Phoebe Kelly

You might know that recycling your empty drink cans is good news for the environment, but did you know it can also be good news for your local community? By taking your aluminium cans to a metal merchant or recycling centre which takes ‘cash for cans’, drink can recycling could be the perfect fundraising opportunity for community groups and charities who want to boost recycling rates while also raising money for a good cause.

Why Cash for Cans?

Aluminium packaging is one of the most valuable materials in your recycling bin. Many metal merchants offer between 30p-50p per kilo of drink cans collected and brought in for recycling. To give you an idea of quantity, approximately 80 aluminium cans make up a kilo.

Many people collect cans to raise money for a charity of their choice or to support a community project or initiative. If you need a bit of inspiration to get started with your own fundraising project, then you’re in the right place! We’re shining a spotlight on three amazing fundraising initiatives that have been made possible through drink can recycling. Not only have these projects improved drink can recycling rates in their area, but they’ve also raised vital funds for their community or a project close to their hearts. Let’s take a look at what they have achieved.

The Neasden Temple

First up in our trio of recycling heroes is BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London – which is otherwise known as the Neasden Temple. This temple opened in August 1995 was Europe’s first traditional Hindu stone temple, created by the vision of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS which is a worldwide charitable Hindu organisation.

This incredible temple, found in North West London, was constructed using traditional Hindu architectural methods, meaning that no structural steel was used. The Italian marble selected for this impressive building was sent to India to be carved by craftsmen and then shipped to London to be assembled into the Temple which stands today.

Between 1992 and 1995 a nation-wide recycling campaign was launched to fund the construction of the Neasden Temple. In less than three years, a massive total of over 7 million drink cans along with 91 tonnes of aluminium foil was collected by a group of young children involved in the initiative which provided BAPS with a grand total of £75,000, all of which helped to bring the Neasden Temple to life. This incredible feat is known to be one of the largest aluminium can recycling efforts run by a charitable organisation in the UK. But more than this, the initiative provided young children with a greater understanding of recycling and a sense of community involvement. Their recycling efforts and contribution to its construction, instilled the notion that the Neasden Temple was being built for both themselves and for future generations.

Want to learn more about the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir? Visit their website by clicking here.

Aluminium Can Recycling Group for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

Next up, we are putting a spotlight on Janice and David Lipscombe who, back in 2019, began recycling aluminium drink cans to help raise funds for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. After their first donation of £12, word about their scheme spread across the community and inspired a growing number of people to join their recycling efforts.

From individuals to businesses; from scouts and guide groups to litter-picking groups; many people are now involved in the initiative, which has gained over 200 members on Facebook. They now have 37 recycling points set up across Hampshire, with locations ranging from a local church to a vineyard! These recycling bins are emptied once a month and the aluminium cans are then taken to an industrial recycling centre which offers ‘cash for cans’. Any money received from this exchange is then donated directly to Air Ambulance Hampshire & Isle of Wight.

Since starting the initiative four years ago, the group has collected approximately 9 tonnes of aluminium, which includes foil, tea light holders and wine tops, with their main source of income being recycled drink cans. Their recycling efforts have rewarded them with a grand total of £14,800 which has been donated directly to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Want to get involved? Click here to join their Facebook group!

Cans4City

The third fundraising project we want to shine a light on is the Exeter-based initiative, Cans4City. The scheme was originally founded in 2005 by Exeter Football Club and encourages Exeter football fans, who want to support the club, to recycle their empty drink cans and raise money for charity.

After partnering with Exeter City Council in 2019, Cans4City really started to take off within the local community. Working with the council’s waste management department, Cans4City now has over 20 aluminium recycling points throughout Devon and has collected more than 19 tonnes of drink cans.

Cans4City has raised over £15,400 from their recycling efforts, with all funds going towards projects and initiatives run both by the football club and its partner charity Exeter City Community Trust. Donations have been made 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. Over the past year, a particularly proud moment for the group was putting the funds raised from their recycled drink cans towards the purchase of picnic benches made from plastic waste collected at the football club over the course of 9 months.

For more information about the scheme, please click here.

Ready to Get Started with ‘Cash for Cans’?

If you need a bit of inspiration to get started with your own recycling project, these groups are excellent examples to follow. Not only do they help the environment by recycling, but they also support their communities in significant ways.

So, if you’re feeling inspired and you want to start your own drink can collection scheme, then we’re here to support you! We provide cardboard recycling bins (designed for indoor use), bin stickers, and posters to help spread the word about the importance of drink can recycling and encourage others to get involved. We’re also happy to offer advice on finding a local metal merchant who offers ‘cash for cans’ and/or how to get the best price for your cans.

So, get in touch by sending us a message on our contact form or via any of our social media channels!

  • Phoebe Kelly

Experience The Infinite Possibilities Of Recycling: The Every Can Counts Infinity Room Arrives At W5 For Recycle Week

Experience The Infinite Possibilities Of Recycling: The Every Can Counts Infinity Room Arrives At W5 For Recycle Week 1408 946 Phoebe Kelly

We’ve partnered with the award-winning W5 Science & Discovery Centre to bring our captivating Infinity Room exhibit to Belfast, in time for the 20th anniversary of Recycle Week!

Join us for Recycle Week and experience our immersive ‘Infinity Room’ exhibit in Belfast, which invites visitors of all ages to explore the significance of recycling drink cans while showcasing the infinite recyclability of aluminum.

Experiencing Infinite Possibilities

Upon their visit, guests will be met with a giant drink can, and once they step inside, they’ll be immersed in a mirrored room featuring the illusion of an infinite number of suspended aluminium cans. Alongside the visual spectacle, a narrator will take them on an educational journey through aluminium can recycling and its environmental benefits.

Comprised of 1,500 recycled cans and 25 square meters of mirrors, the Infinity Room is not only an educational experience but also a stunning visual attraction. To help us spread the recycling message far and wide, we’re encouraging everyone who visits to share their experience on social media by using the hashtag, #EveryCanCounts.

The arrival of the Infinity Room not only marks a new experience for visitors to W5 Belfast, but also the 20th anniversary of Recycle Week.

What Is Recycle Week?

Recycle Week is an annual celebration of recycling which aims to encourage the public across the UK to recycle more of the right things, more often. Hosted by the recycling charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), Recycle Week encourages businesses, local authorities, and community groups to all come together to promote the importance of waste reduction.

If you’d like to find out more, you can visit WRAP’s website by clicking here.

Victoria Denoon, Head of W5 Experience, said:

“W5 is proud to work alongside Every Can Counts to showcase the Infinity Room Tour during Recycle Week 2023.

“The exhibit will be housed in our In Our Nature Zone which highlights the importance of sustainability, climate change and our local environment and is aligned to W5’s mission of provoking new learning opportunities in immersive environments where visitors of all ages and backgrounds can become fully absorbed and engaged. 

“Like Every Can Counts, we are fully committed to inspiring the next generation to recycle and providing opportunities for them to learn about the science involved.”

Nothing Is Impossible When You Make Every Can Count

As part of Recycle Week, we conducted research on the recycling behaviors of Belfast residents. Check out the findings below:

  • On average, residents of Belfast enjoy seven canned drinks per week, and 78% of these cans are recycled.
  • Just under half (48%) of those living in Belfast always use recycling bins when out and about in public places.
  • Only a third (31%) would take packaging home to recycle it if they couldn’t find a recycle bin.
  • Belfast residents cited more recycling bins (73%), clearer signage on recycling bins (34%), and more recyclable packaging (34%) as the top three things which would encourage them to recycle more when out of their home.
  • Almost half of those living in Belfast (44%) think more should be done to educate young people about the importance of recycling.

Make Every Can Count for Recycle Week

If you want to make every one of your cans count for Recycle Week and beyond, then we want you to help us spread the recycling message!

Here are the key facts we like to shout about:

  • Aluminium can be recycled again and again without losing any quality!
  • It takes as little as 60 days for a drink can to go around the recycling loop and be back on the shop shelf as a brand new can.
  • Recycling drink cans uses 95% less energy than making new ones from primary aluminium.

Want to learn more about drink can recycling? We have another blog post which answers all of your frequently asked questions. Click here to find out more.

Visit the Infinity Room!

If you’re in Belfast, be sure to check out the Every Can Counts Infinity Room at W5. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experience art and learn about sustainability in a fun and engaging way!

For more information, including W5’s opening times, click here.

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