every can counts

  • Phoebe Kelly

A Greener Festival Season With Every Can Counts: Highlights From Our Summer

A Greener Festival Season With Every Can Counts: Highlights From Our Summer 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

Phew – it’s been a busy summer here at Every Can Counts as we helped to create a greener festival season!

We’ve had a presence at 12 major events (with a total attendance of 1,445,000) and festivals since June, bringing along our inspirational messages and plenty of recycling fun! From immersive installations to games and quizzes, our activities have been encouraging positive behaviour change and raising awareness about the benefits of recycling drink cans.

And we couldn’t have done it without our passionate team of recycling ambassadors! A total of 42 ambassadors helped us to put the fun into recycling this summer by donning their can-recycling backpacks and engaging people with our activities. Our team worked tirelessly over the summer to spread the Every Can Counts message; with over 5,000 people taking part in our recycling quiz and thousands more engaged in our other recycling-themed activities. 

So, what was our aim at these events?

  1. To encourage everyone at the festival to recycle their empty drink cans.
  2. To make drink can recycling fun and accessible.
  3. To inspire more people to recycle on-the-go.
  4. To raise awareness of the many benefits of recycling drink cans.
  5. To empower and reassure people with knowledge about the simplicity and speed of the drink can recycling process.

Read on to see how we brought these ambitions to life this summer!

Celebrating the International Recycling Tour at Mighty Hoopla

We kicked off our summer at Mighty Hoopla in Brockwell Park, where we participated in the third edition of the #EveryCanCounts International Recycling Tour.

How did we help create a greener festival?

  • Our recycling ambassadors: Eight of our dedicated recycling ambassadors roamed the festival with their iconic backpacks collecting empty cans and spreading the message that ‘aluminium recycles forever’.
  • A nature-inspired installation at Mighty Hoopla: made up of 2,000 drink cans, the PixelCan artwork featured tiger eyes designed to have a ‘watching effect’ over festival goers, encouraging them to do the right thing and recycle their empty cans.

Read more about this year’s International Recycling Tour event here.  

Celebrating 20 Years of Download Festival

The 20th anniversary of Download Festival was an extraordinary celebration, and we were there to make it even more special. With the head-turning #EveryCanCounts soapbox, our team roamed around Donnington Park collecting cans and engaging festival goers everywhere they went. Over 40,000 cans were recycled through Every Can Counts’ activities at the events, with thousands upon thousands more being recycled across the whole of the site.

How did we spread the recycling message?

  • Our recycling ambassadors roamed around Download Festival chatting to festival goers and getting them excited about drink can recycling!
  • Our recycling survey and prize draw helped to ignite excitement while giving attendees the opportunity to learn something new about drink can recycling.  Over 2,400 people completed the survey and entered our prize draw for tickets to next year’s festival!
  • Festival goers had the chance to exchange a bag of empty drink cans for recycling rewards, including ‘Metal Never Dies’ t-shirts and recycled aluminium keyrings commemorating the festival’s 20th anniversary.
  • We brought our iconic voting bins and brand new DOWNLOAD can cages to the festival which prompted anyone who passed through the Campsite Village to do the right thing with their empty cans!
  • After its crash at last year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race in London, our iconic soapbox received a rather impressive makeover. Now equipped with an electric motor, it grabbed the attention at Download Festival as our ambassadors drove it around Donington Park, captivating the crowd and spreading the message of sustainability while having fun.
  • We created a PixelCan display of the iconic Download Dog, made from 2,000 recycled drink cans. The art installation was on display for the duration of the festival and proved to be a popular photo opportunity with attendees.
  • On the final day of the festival our team held a recycling quiz which taught those participating about the wonders of can recycling. The winner’s prize was a one-of-a-kind Download 20th anniversary commemorative plaque, made from recycled aluminium.

Return to Silverstone

We had a blast revving up the recycling game at the British Grand Prix for Formula 1 and MotoGP at Silverstone. Who knew that recycling could become a competitive sport too? Our voting bins and our recycling quiz certainly proved it could!

Formula 1 British Grand Prix

  • Our Silverstone can cages were on display, ready for F1 fans to recycle their drink cans and snap a photo beside.
  • We brought out our voting bins to encourage some healthy competition between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fans, all in the name of drink can recycling.
  • Our iconic aluminium Soapbox made an appearance too, creating a buzz around our pitch and helping to engage F1 fans in conversations about aluminium recycling.
  • Our recycling ambassadors roamed the entirety of Silverstone Circuit chatting to fans about all things related to can recycling – and F1 too!

MotoGP British Grand Prix

  • Our team of ambassadors were back roaming the circuit in August during the MotoGP race weekend. With their iconic backpacks, our team brought the recycling bin to MotoGP fans and reminded them about the importance of drink can recycling.
  • Our ambassadors also put MotoGP fans to the test with our recycling quiz, resulting in some great conversations and leaving people with nuggets of drink can recycling knowledge to take away with them after the event.

Stendhal Festival

In July we returned to Stendhal Festival in Limavady, Northern Ireland. Our recycling ambassadors roamed the festival, equipped with their recycling backpacks and recycling quizzes. We also brought our iconic ‘I Heart Recycling’ can cages to the festival to inspire everyone to recycle their empty cans. These quirky recycling bins never fail to fill up quickly at festivals, thanks to their eye-catching shapes and colourful designs!

Working in Partnership with Drink Brands

We’ve had a busy summer working with our brand partners to spread the recycling message even further and increase recycling rates at festivals and events.

Pernod Ricard UK

Back in May, we announced our new partnership with Pernod Ricard UK. Throughout the summer we’ve teamed up with two of their drink brands, Absolut UK and Malibu UK, to raise awareness about the importance of can recycling and encourage everyone at the events we attended to recycle their empty cans.

Events with Absolut UK
  • Mighty Hoopla: Alongside our International Recycling Tour, our team worked with Absolut to collect cans and spread the recycling message by dancing, singing and generally getting into the fabulous spirit of Mighty Hoopla!
  • Brighton Pride: Our recycling ambassadors marched proudly alongside the Pride Parade in Brighton and continued to take their enthusiasm for drink can recycling into Fabuloso In The Park!
Events with Malibu UK
  • Elrow Town, London: Despite the rain, our ambassadors had a blast at Elrow Town and managed to engage the crowds with their usual charm and passion for drink can recycling.
  • We Are FSTVL: Our team donned their backpacks for one last time this summer at We Are FSTVL – and thankfully the weather was on their side this time! The team roamed the festival site spreading the Every Can Counts message with their co-branded Malibu recycling backpacks.

Red Bull

Our long-standing partners at Red Bull have been working with us to ensure attendees at their brand events can easily recycle their empty cans. As well as providing Every Can Counts bins for use at Red Bull events, we also sent a couple of our can cages up to Edinburgh for Red Bull Contested in June – ensuring both gamers and fans knew exactly what to do with their empty cans!

British Summer Time Festival with Most Wanted Wines

Our ambassadors attended BST Hyde Park in partnership with our new brand partners Most Wanted Wines. Our team really made every can count at the festival, and all the Most Wanted cans we collected have been saved for an upcoming art installation… Watch this space!

All Points East with White Claw

We sent one of our iconic can cages to London’s All Points East festival in partnership with White Claw Hard Seltzer. Our can cage helped to brighten up everyone’s bank holiday weekend and ensure that festival-goers could recycle their cans in Victoria Park.

Big Feastival with Canned Wine Co.

To round off our summer season, we had a presence at Big Feastival in partnership with Canned Wine Company. After enjoying a delicious can of wine, festival-goers were able to recycle their empty cans into one of our can recycling backpacks or our green ‘Recycling Swoosh’ can cage!

How Can You Get Involved?

If you came across the Every Can Counts team out and about 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 so you can separate your recycling from your general waste.  
  3. If you work or volunteer at an organisation with no drink can recycling facilities in place, we can help you do something about it! Set up a can collection point by requesting a free Every Can Counts starter pack here.
  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!

Together we can create a greener festival and event environment and continue to make progress on our journey towards a 100% drink can recycling rate. We’ll see you next summer for another season of good music, sunshine, and recycling fun – and until then, remember to make your cans count!

  • Phoebe Kelly

Immersive Recycling Exhibit Launches At Catalyst Science Discovery Centre

Immersive Recycling Exhibit Launches At Catalyst Science Discovery Centre 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room has arrived at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes, Cheshire.

What is the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room?

The ‘Infinity Room’ installation, created by recycling not-for-profit Every Can Counts, aims to teach children and the wider public about the importance of recycling drink cans, as well as illustrating the infinite recyclability of aluminium.

Those who step inside the giant drink can will find themselves in a mirrored room that creates an illusion of being surrounded by an infinite number of suspended aluminium cans. At the same time, a narrator will take them on an educational journey through aluminium can recycling and its environmental benefits. The exhibit, which is made up of 1,500 recycled cans and 25 square metres of mirrors, also makes for an ideal photo opportunity.

What Makes this Immersive Recycling Exhibit So Special?

At Every Can Counts we love educating and inspiring people to recycle their drink cans via innovative and creative projects. The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room allows anyone who enters to see the endless possibilities that come from recycling a drink can. It shows that recycling just a few small cans could add up to make a massive impact and will hopefully inspire people to continue making lots of little, positive changes in their life. Each can recycled bring us one step closer to a 100% drink can recycling rate and a more sustainable future for us all.

To learn more about the life cycle of a drink can, visit our dedicated web page by clicking here.

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “Our one-of-a-kind Infinity Room installation has been a great success in both Glasgow and Dundee over the past few months, so we’re very excited to be bringing it to yet another new location in the UK.   

“The aim of the exhibit is to raise awareness of the infinite recyclability of aluminium in a visual and interactive way. Every drink can that is recycled could be back on the shop shelf in 60 days, so we hope that visitors to Catalyst Science Discovery Centre are left feeling inspired by this and the vital role that they can play in keeping this cycle going.”

Clare Lightfoot, Community Engagement Coordinator at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, said, “Informing, educating and inspiring younger generations about the wonders of science and the impact they can have on the environment is what we’re all about at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre.

“It’s great to be able to partner with Every Can Counts to host their Infinity Room exhibit and spread the message about the infinite recyclability of aluminium in a fun and interactive way. We look forward to hearing what our visitors think and the small changes they’ll be making in their everyday lives to make sure each and every drink can that they consume is recycled.”

Year 6 pupils at St Augustine's Catholic Primary visit the Infinity Room at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Cheshire.
Year 6 pupils at St Augustine’s Catholic Primary visit the Infinity Room at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Cheshire.

Infinity Room Opening Times

Visitors can explore the Infinity Room at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre free of charge, from 10am – 5pm every day, (apart from Mondays when the centre is closed) but visitors are encouraged to purchase an admission ticket to experience all of the activities and exhibits the centre has to offer.

Learn More About Catalyst Science Discovery Centre

Catalyst is a Science Discovery Centre and Museum offering a host of interactive exhibits, museum archives, historical galleries, family shows and hands-on workshops.  

Learn more about the Discovery Centre and Museum, view all the other exhibits and activities on offer and book tickets for an exciting day out by visiting Catalyst’s website! Click here for more information.

  • Phoebe Kelly

Recycling In Style For World Environment Day At Mighty Hoopla

Recycling In Style For World Environment Day At Mighty Hoopla 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

To mark World Environment Day on the 5th June, we attended Mighty Hoopla festival as part of the third #EveryCanCounts International Recycling Tour!

What is the International Recycling Tour?

The International Recycling Tour is an awareness campaign which aims to mark World Environment Day and champion sustainable living, whilst encouraging people to keep outdoor public spaces clean and to recycle their empty drink cans wherever they go.

This year’s initiative took place simultaneously in 16 countries including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  

The theme for 2023 revolved around each participating country designing and displaying a PixelCan installation in a public space to encourage everyone to do the right thing and recycle their drink cans!

Click here to learn more about the International Recycling Tour.

Iconic Recycling at Mighty Hoopla Festival

As part of the International Recycling tour in the UK, we unveiled a nature-inspired installation at pop music festival, Mighty Hoopla, in London’s Brockwell Park.

Made up of 2,000 drink cans, the PixelCan artwork featured tiger eyes designed to have a ‘watching effect’ over festival goers to encourage them to do the right thing and recycle their drink cans.

In addition to the PixelCan artwork, eight of Every Can Counts’ dedicated ambassadors also helped to raise awareness of the importance of recycling by spreading the ‘aluminium recycles forever’ message.

We never knew that there were so many different ways to recycle your drink can – from voguing to death drops, the possibilities were endless… much like the infinite recyclability of aluminium!

What we Had to Say About the International Recycling Tour!

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts UK and Ireland, said: “From the banks of the Danube in Vienna and Budapest to Brixton in London, this year’s International Recycling Tour will see our signature PixelCan innovation pop up in iconic locations across the world. Not only will the pixelated mural captivate viewers from a distance, but it will also act as a symbol of the infinite possibilities of aluminium recycling, which is the message we’re trying to spread across the UK and beyond this World Environment Day.”

David Van Heuverswyn, Director of Every Can Counts Europe, added: “By coming together to celebrate World Environment Day and embracing the endless potential of aluminium recycling, we aim to inspire behaviour change and help reach 100% can recycling in Europe and beyond. That’s why we are inviting everyone — consumers, local authorities, brands, and event organisers — to join forces and find better ways to recycle on-the-go, while having fun doing so.”

  • Phoebe Kelly

Announcing Our New Partnership With Pernod Ricard UK

Announcing Our New Partnership With Pernod Ricard UK 2560 1920 Phoebe Kelly

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with industry leading wine and spirits company, Pernod Ricard UK. The partnership will see Pernod Ricard UK collaborate with the Every Can Counts programme, alongside drink can manufacturers and the wider recycling industry, to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and work together to increase the recycling rate for drink cans across the UK.

Spreading the Every Can Counts Message

We will be working with Pernod Ricard UK and its brands to encourage more recycling in on-the-go locations. Over the summer months we will be supporting a number of sampling campaigns and festival activations for Pernod Ricard’s Absolut and Malibu brands. The first of these partnership activations will be at Mighty Hoopla festival in London, where our recycling ambassadors will be on hand to collect cans and educate consumers.

Pernod Ricard’s Sustainability & Responsibility Roadmap

Pernod Ricard UK is committed to creating a better world through environmental initiatives. The company’s sustainability and responsibility roadmap – Good Times From A Good Place – has four core pillars: Circular Making, Nurturing Terroir, Valuing People and Responsible Hosting. A key commitment within the Circular Making pillar is working to reduce the company’s carbon footprint intensity by 50% by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050.

A Few Words…

Ian Peart, Commercial Director at Pernod Ricard UK commented: “For RTDs, as for any other segment, we strive to be sustainable and responsible every step of the way, including in our packaging, energy and production, as well as transport. Aluminium is an infinitely recyclable material and in the UK, 82% of aluminium was effectively recycled in 2021. We’re excited to be working with Every Can Counts as we strive to increase that number.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts said: “We’re always very excited to announce new partnerships, especially those with brands as well known and globally recognised as Pernod Ricard UK. It’s great to see these industry leading brands taking steps to encourage their customers to do the right thing and we’re looking forward to working with them to help raise awareness and inspire recycling across the nation.”

Every Can Counts x Pernod Ricard Prize Draw

To celebrate our new partnership with Pernod Ricard UK, we’re giving away a hamper with 40 cans of Absolut and Malibu cocktails for you to share with friends this summer! Click here to learn more and read our terms and conditions.

  • Phoebe Kelly

Introducing the #EveryCanCounts CANvas

Introducing the #EveryCanCounts CANvas 2227 2395 Phoebe Kelly

Visit Covent Garden for Earth Day 2023 and see our brand new installation highlighting the importance of recycling drink cans!

What is the #EveryCanCounts CANvas?

In celebration of Earth Day on Saturday 22nd April, Covent Garden, the sustainable neighbourhood of the West End, is partnering with us for a second time to create ‘The #EveryCanCounts CANvas’.

Made up of over 700 drink cans, the ‘CANvas’ has been brought to life by renowned street artist, Jimmy C, with a bespoke Earth Day design to raise awareness of the infinite recyclability of aluminum and encourage people to recycle their drink cans wherever they are – as when recycled, each and every empty can could be back on sale as a brand-new can in just 60 days.

The installation is located on Covent Garden’s North Piazza and will remain on display until Tuesday 25th April, when Jimmy C will be returning to paint a new ‘CANvas’ ahead of the Coronation weekend – so watch this space!

Chris Latham-Warde, programme manager for Every Can Counts, said: “We’re so excited to partner with Covent Garden again and celebrate Earth Day with the reveal of our brand-new ‘CANvas’ installation.

“Earth Day is all about encouraging worldwide action to help benefit the environment and to preserve the planet, and recycling empty drink cans is something we can all easily do.

“Aluminum 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. Every can recycled also reduces the carbon footprint of the next can made, so small actions like recycling really do add up to help make a big difference.”

Artist Jimmy C with CANvas installation in Covent Garden.
Artist Jimmy C and Every can counts team with CANvas installation in Covent Garden.

Enter Our Photo Prize Draw!

Make sure you visit Covent Garden for Earth Day 2023 as we will also be holding a photo prize draw with the #EveryCanCounts CANvas! Passers-by have until 30th May to snap a picture with the CANvas installation and enter a social media photo competition for the chance to win a £100 One4All gift card. To enter, take a photo of the CANvas 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.

  • ChrisUK

Bodega 51 Presented With Green Can Award

Bodega 51 Presented With Green Can Award 2560 1678 ChrisUK

Bodega 51, an independent bar in Rochester, has been presented with a Green Can Award by Every Can Counts for its ongoing recycling efforts. Since opening in May last year, the bar has recycled more than 25,000 drink cans, with all proceeds being donated to mental health charity, Mind.  

About Bodega 51 and their recycling initiative:

Bodega 51 specialises in canned drinks, stocking over 150 varieties from craft lagers, IPAs, cocktails to juices and soft drinks, all of which are collected and recycled once consumed by customers.

All empty drink cans are taken and sold to local scrap metal business, Medway Metals, with the proceeds then being donated to Mind. In just 10 months, the team at Bodega 51 have raised a total of £200 for the charity and have recycled 300kg of cans.

Sustainability is a key focus for the bar, with it encouraging its employees as well as other local businesses and individuals to drop off clean and crushed aluminium cans in clear sacks in order to be recycled.

The bar also displays boards and posters on-site to educate customers on the benefits of recycling aluminium and to give updates on the progress of their fundraising initiative.

A few words:

Kayea Shome, owner of Bodega 51, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this award and be recognised for our commitment to recycling. Being Kent’s first can bar, recycling is hugely important to us and we’re glad to be able to use our recycling initiative to also give something back to the community by raising money for charity. The more people who can get involved, the better!”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts said: “Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and every empty can could be recycled and back on sale as a brand-new can in just 60 days; so we’re very impressed with the team at Bodega 51 who have made recycling a key focus since their opening last year with their fantastic fundraising initiative in support of Mind.

“The bar is a great example of how independent businesses can make a real difference, no matter their size, and it’s great to see them encouraging other local businesses as well as the wider community to get involved and help look after the environment while raising money for charity too.”

Find out more:

You can learn more about Bodega 51 on Facebook and Instagram.

To find out more about the Green Can Award scheme, click here.

  • 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

To Crush or Not to Crush Drink Cans: Common Recycling Questions Answered

To Crush or Not to Crush Drink Cans: Common Recycling Questions Answered 2000 1334 Phoebe Kelly

There are plenty of questions you may want to ask about drink can recycling: Should I crush my drink cans before recycling? Should I wash them? Do they travel half-way around the world in order to be recycled?   

But if you think that recycling your aluminium drink can should be as simple as popping it into the recycling bin, then you’re in luck; it really is that simple!

Aluminium is an infinitely recyclable material, so as long as your empty can is placed in a recycling bin, it can be back on the shop shelf as a brand-new can in just 60 days. No matter it’s size, shape or colour.

This blog will answer the burning questions you might still have about drink can recycling and debunk some of the age-old myths that continue to circulate around the internet.

So let’s get to it…

Should I crush my drink cans before recycling?

You do not have to crush your empty drink cans. Some people crush their recycled cans to create more room in their recycling bin, but this is optional. Your can is equally recyclable either way!

Both crushed and uncrushed cans are separated from other recyclables at the sorting facility (also called a materials recovery facility) using electric currents. These currents are called eddy currents or Foucault’s currents. To learn more about the drink can recycling process, you can visit our dedicated web page by clicking here.

Do cans have to be sent thousands of miles away to be recycled?

Over 90% of drink cans collected in the UK are recycled within Europe.1 The majority of cans recycled in the UK are melted down at a large plant in Warrington, Cheshire. This single plant has the capacity to recycle all of the cans sold in the UK. But there are plenty of other options around too, with over 220 aluminium recycling plants spread across Europe!2

How much energy does it take to recycle drink cans?

Recycling cans uses 95% LESS energy than creating new ones from raw materials. So recycling cans leads to huge energy savings as well as savings in greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to recharge almost 20 smartphones!3

Does the plastic coating on the inside of a can mean that they can’t be recycled?  

Manufacturers have used food-grade, polymer-based can coatings for decades as a protective barrier between the metal and the products in the can. The purpose of coatings is to extend product shelf life, and to ensure that the quality and taste of the product remain as intended until the consumer opens it.

Importantly, these protective coatings do not impact upon the recyclability of an aluminium can. The coating on a 330ml standard can makes up only 1-2 percent of the total mass, and is extracted and used as thermal fuel during the recycling process.

How many drink cans are recycled every year?

The UK’s drink can recycling rate in 2021 was 82%.4 That means that 8 out of every 10 drink cans sold in the UK were recycled. It’s a record high recycling rate – but we want to keep raising the bar!

Do drink cans have to be washed before they’re recycled?

You should always ensure your drink can is empty before you put it in a recycling bin, but there is no need to wash it before recycling. Any impurities that remain in the can are removed during the re-melting process.

Do the labels on the cans make them less recyclable?

For smaller brands producing drinks in cans, sometimes their volumes are too low to have printed cans and they apply a label (e.g. paper or plastic) post-production instead.

These cans are still recyclable, but printed cans are preferable as there are fewer non-aluminium components attached to the can.

What is the system in other countries where you get paid for recycling drink cans?   

The system you’re referring to is known as a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and is something which is coming into place in Scotland later this year and will be coming to the UK in 2025.

The money you receive when recycling your cans in this system is a refund of a deposit you pay when purchasing them.5

So there you have it!

You now know that you don’t have to crush your cans before recycling them and that the plastic coating on the inside of a can does not affect the infinite recyclability of the aluminium your drink can is made from!

We know that by writing this blog, the myths surrounding drink can recycling won’t disappear. But we hope that we’ve helped answer some common questions and you’re now feeling better informed about the can recycling process. If you’re still unsure about something, you can always drop us a message, either by email, Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

Want to learn more?

We’ve dedicated a whole section of our website to breaking down the can recycling process. Click here to learn more about the Life Cycle of a Can.

Footnotes

  1. Recycling Process Factsheet (Alupro)
  2. About the Aluminium Industry (European Aluminium)
  3. Aluminium Recycling Factsheet (International Aluminium)
  4. Drink Can Recycling Rate Remains at Record High in UK (Alupro)
  5. Deposit Return Scheme Factsheet (Alupro)
  • Phoebe Kelly

Exeter Recycling Scheme Reaches Major 10K Milestone!

Exeter Recycling Scheme Reaches Major 10K Milestone! 2560 1614 Phoebe Kelly

Exeter City Football Club (ECFC) and Exeter City Council’s innovative recycling scheme, Cans4City, has reached a major milestone.

The scheme, which encourages Exeter football fans to recycle used drink cans whilst also raising money for charity, has now raised more than £10,000 with all funds raised going towards projects and initiatives run both by the football club and its partner charity Exeter City Community Trust (ECCT).

How Cans4City Reached Their New Milestone

Over the years, the Cans4City team has collected more than 12.5 tonnes of aluminium packaging – equivalent to 700,000 cans – which has helped fund donations 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, and much more.

Who are Cans4City?

Originally founded in 2005, Cans4City was launched by Exeter City Football Club as a free way for its fans and the community to support and contribute to the club financially, but really picked up momentum after partnering with Exeter City Council in 2019.   

Working in conjunction with the council’s waste management department, Cans4City now runs upwards of 20 aluminium recycling points in Exeter and throughout Devon, including many on ECFC’s grounds, and has recruited over 100 volunteers.  It also raises money by partnering with community litter picks and beach cleans across Devon and Cornwall.

Cans4City Wins Green Can Award in 2022

Last year, we presented the team behind Cans4City with a national recycling award – our Green Can Award – in recognition of their outstanding recycling effort. Click here to read the full story from January 2022.

We are incredibly proud to support community groups such as Cans4City to achieve their goals when it comes to drink can recycling. If you run a community group or are part of an organisation who has gone the extra mile to promote drink can recycling, then we want to hear from you! Click here to read more about our Green Can Awards and find out how you can apply today.

A Few Words from Cans4City and Every Can Counts

Justin Quick, Chief Operating Officer at Exeter City Football Club, said: “As a trust-run club, every pound counts and thanks to Cans4City, every can recycled goes towards funding improvements to the club’s facilities or to supporting local community groups and projects. Our next target is to hit 1 million recycled cans and we’d love everyone to get involved – whether it’s one can or 500 – each really will help to make a difference.”

Matt Hulland, Resource Recovery Manager for Exeter City Council, who has helped grow the initiative at the club, said: “Cans4City has gone from strength to strength over the years and it’s fabulous to reach this milestone.”

Ruth Williams, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor, who has responsibility for recycling and waste management, added: “We’re very proud of the achievements of the club, trust, fans and collectors of cans. Not only does collaboration of this kind create ownership but it also encourages people to recycle rather than throw away a valuable resource we can’t afford to waste.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “Cans4City is an award-winning example of a start-up project working in partnership with its local council to deliver real benefits to not only the local community, but the environment too. We hope other organisations around the country can get inspired by what Cans4City has achieved since its launch and follow in the footsteps of this great initiative.”

How to Support Cans4City

You can support Cans4City by dropping off your empty cans at one of the scheme’s recycling collection points, which include the Red Square at St James’ Park, as well as at the Old Tiverton Road Co-op, and The Devon Yeoman pub on Beacon Lane. For more information about the scheme, please see https://news.exeter.gov.uk/cans-4-city-supporting-exeter-city-community-trust/.

  • Phoebe Kelly

To Infinity and Beyond: The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room Launches at Dundee Science Centre

To Infinity and Beyond: The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room Launches at Dundee Science Centre 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

The #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room – a new immersive exhibit about can recycling – has arrived at Dundee Science Centre to inspire people to recycle their empty cans! Read on to take a peek inside our giant can and learn more about this immersive exhibition.

What is the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room?

The ‘Infinity Room’ installation, created by recycling not-for-profit Every Can Counts, aims to teach children and the wider public about the importance of recycling drink cans, as well as illustrating the infinite recyclability of aluminium.

Those who step inside the giant drink can will find themselves in a mirrored room that creates an illusion of being surrounded by an infinite number of suspended aluminium cans. At the same time, a narrator will take them on an educational journey through aluminium can recycling and its environmental benefits.

The exhibit, which is made up of 1,500 recycled cans and 25 square metres of mirrors, also makes for an ideal photo opportunity. Visitors can share their own photos and videos of the Infinity Room on social media with the hashtag #EveryCanCounts.

Take a Peek Inside the Giant Can:

We Even Had a Visit from Less Waste Laura!

Award winning climate activist, environmental scientist, and ethical influencer, Laura Young (also known as Less Waste Laura) visited the Infinity Room during the launch at Dundee Science Centre. Take a look at some of the photos below:

Less Waste Laura stands in front of the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room, holding an empty can over a recycling bin. She is smiling and is enjoying her visit.
Less Waste Laura stands in front of the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room, along with Chris-Latham-Warde (the Every Can Counts Programme Manager) and George Wickenden (the Marketing and Audience Development Advisor at Dundee Science Centre). George holds a recycling bin while Laura and Chris recycle an empty drink can each. All three are smiling and excited to be a part of this recycling initiative.
Less Waste Laura stands inside the Infinity Room. Half of her body is visible and the other half is reflected in the mirrored door of the Infinity Room.

You can find out more about Laura’s visit to our recycling-themed installation on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or for more tips and tricks on how to reduce waste and create a more sustainable future for our planet, make sure you take a look at Laura’s social media channels (Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter).

What We Had to Say About the Arrival of the Infinity Room!

Dundee Science Centre:

Lorraine Lemon, Head of Business Development at Dundee Science Centre, said, “As well as providing an enjoyable visitor experience, we are passionate about motivating change and inspiring positive behaviour for the long-term benefit of our community, and the wider world. The best way to do that is to make an impact and really make people think. Hosting the Infinity Room provides us with an opportunity to do just that – to provide a visual treat, something truly immersive, but also a catalyst for conversations, questions and behavioural change when families and other visitors go home. This interactive exhibit is also a way of showing visitors that even the smallest of steps can make a difference, that we can all do something to reduce our carbon footprint, and that items we might otherwise throw away can be recycled or even transformed into a piece of art.”

Every Can Counts:

Chris Latham-Warde from Every Can Counts added: “We’re thrilled to be bringing our one-of-a-kind Infinity Room installation to another city in the UK after its recent success in Glasgow.

“The aim of the exhibit is to raise awareness of the infinite recyclability of drink cans in a visual and interactive way and we hope that visitors to Dundee Science Centre are left feeling inspired by it. Each and every one of us can play a vital role in keeping this cycle going and enabling aluminium to be recycled again and again, forever.”

Visit the #EveryCanCounts Infinity Room!

Visitors can explore The Infinity Room at Dundee Science Centre free of charge, Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 4 pm. Admission costs still apply for the Centre’s year-round exhibitions. To find out more about Dundee Science Centre, please visit https://www.dundeesciencecentre.org.uk/

Learn More!

Want to learn more about the ways we inspire and empower people to recycle their empty drink cans? Visit our news page for more stories! Or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to join us on our journey towards a 100% drink can recycling rate!

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