Green Can Awards

Every Can Counts Event
  • 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!

Celebrating 15 years of drink can recycling
  • Phoebe Kelly

Celebrating 15 Years of Drink Can Recycling with Every Can Counts

Celebrating 15 Years of Drink Can Recycling with Every Can Counts 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

Have you heard the news? We’re celebrating our 15th anniversary, which means 15 years of drink can recycling fun with Every Can Counts!

Established in Birmingham as a workplace recycling scheme back in 2009, Every Can Counts is now active in 21 countries across the world, including Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and, most recently, the United States.    

27 ECC representatives from across the globe met in Prague ahead of the European Aluminium Packaging & Recycling Seminar to mark the milestone. The celebrations were accompanied by a meeting where representatives from each region shared local success stories, and the group discussed the next steps in the development of the programme’s global strategy.

Humble Beginnings

15 years ago the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) identified that many workplaces didn’t have the infrastructure for employees to recycle their drink cans. So, they launched an innovative workplace recycling scheme to help local businesses recycle drink cans consumed away from home. It was called “Every Can Counts.”

Over the years, ECC has widened its focus to target and engage consumers beyond the workplace, encouraging people to recycle their empty cans wherever they are. When it started life, 54% of the UK’s aluminium drink cans were recycled and, since then, this has grown to 81%.

Through a range of creative partnerships and activations, ECC works to communicate the benefits of can recycling and improve out of home recycling facilities, with more than 19,000 of its drink can collection boxes distributed across the country since the programme was founded.  

A Spotlight on our Achievements

Festivals, Events & Brand Partnerships

From our first festival appearance in 2010 to placing third in this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race, we have taken our recycling message to over 150 festivals, brand and sports events. We have also directly partnered with 14 prominent drink brands, most recently launching a partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Company at the start of 2024.   

Art Installations & Campaigns

Our annual International Recycling Tour – first launched in 2020 – has also worked to bring recycling to the forefront, with a different sustainability theme each year and a unique PixelCan artwork made from 2,000 recycled cans.  

Green Can Awards

Along the way, the programme has also awarded 30 of its Green Can Awards to the businesses, organisations, and individuals going above and beyond within their communities when it comes to can recycling. Winners include the Crewe Clean Team, who have recycled over 200,000 used drink cans over the last decade.  

With the support of ECC, 50 community groups in the UK have established can recycling collections in their local area, using this activity to inspire further positive change. For example, Cans4City has raised over £15,400 for Exeter City Community Trust by collecting more than 19 tonnes of drink cans.

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager at Every Can Counts, said: “Since Every Can Counts was founded, the recycling rate for aluminium drink cans in the UK has increased by an impressive 27%. We’re incredibly proud of our contribution to this movement, beating the drum about the importance of recycling used drink cans and inspiring positive behaviour change.

“We’ve come a long way from humble beginnings in Birmingham to evolving into a global programme with an ever-growing team working hard to spread our message – including that every can recycled can be back on the shelf in 60 days and recycled time and time again.  

“We can’t wait to see what the next 15 years have in store for us as we continue to inspire and empower individuals to recycle.”

So…What’s Next?

As the story of Every Can Counts continues, we’re excited to inspire change, drive innovation, and promote closed-loop recycling. Recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy than producing new cans from raw materials, so when you recycle, you’re not just saving energy and resources—you’re embarking with us on a journey that lasts forever. Here’s to the next 15 years and counting!

How to Get Involved

  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!
Count Northern Ireland Wins Green Can Award
  • Phoebe Kelly

Recycle For Kicks Count Northern Ireland Wins Green Can Award

Recycle For Kicks Count Northern Ireland Wins Green Can Award 1500 1182 Phoebe Kelly

Local recycling group, Recycle for Kicks Count Northern Ireland, has won a national award for their ongoing sustainability efforts which have seen over 1,400 kg of aluminium cans recycled in the last year.    

The group, run by Vicky Seviour-Crockett, were presented with a Green Can Award by Every Can Counts in recognition of their achievements.  

With over 5,000 members on Facebook and even more within the local community, the group recycles used aluminium cans, food wrappers, and items that are more difficult to dispose of such as cosmetic and cleaning product packaging.

Formed in 2014 in Mid Ulster, Recycle for Kicks Count now has 41 recycling points across Northern Ireland, including schools, pubs, children’s soft play areas, cafes, and even a converted phone box. 

All of the aluminium cans collected are sold to Mallusk-based recycling company, Bryson Recycling, with the proceeds then donated to Kicks Count, a UK charity working to reduce stillbirth and neonatal death rates.   

The group recycles an average of 150 kg of aluminium cans each month and has donated almost £20,000 to Kicks Count.

Vicky Seviour-Crockett, leader of Recycle for Kicks Count NI, said: “We’re so grateful for the recognition Every Can Counts has given us with this award – it’s really rewarding to have all our hard work acknowledged.  

“From a couple of collection points in Ulster to over 41 across the whole of Northern Ireland, I’m super proud of our team for raising funds for Kicks Count. It is a charity that is very close to my heart, and I credit it with saving the life of my son, so anything we can do to give back to them and help other families is fantastic.”  

Learn more

Find out more about Recycle For Kicks Count by visiting their Facebook Group.

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

Hampshire Recycling Group Wins National Award
  • Phoebe Kelly

Hampshire Recycling Group Wins National Award

Hampshire Recycling Group Wins National Award 2560 1707 Phoebe Kelly

We’re very pleased to announce that local recycling group, Aluminium Can Recyclers for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, has won a national award for its ongoing sustainability efforts which have seen over nine tonnes of aluminium recycled since September 2019.   

The group, run by husband-and-wife duo Janice and David Lipscombe, were presented with a Green Can Award in recognition of their achievements.

With over 239 members on Facebook and even more within the local community, the group recycles used aluminium cans and other metal items from 40 outdoor and 12 indoor collection points which are located in and around Hampshire.

From houses to pubs, clubs, church halls, and even a vineyard, the team work tirelessly to collect recyclable items from locals, with their efforts also extending to Winchester, Basingstoke, Marchwood and Totton where they support local litter picking teams.    

All of the items they collect for recycling, which includes aluminium packaging, electric cables, brass, and copper, are then sold to local recyclers, H&S Metal Recycling Centre and Bryan Hurst Ltd, with all of the profits donated to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.  

Each month, the group raises up to £700 and overall, they’ve donated £17,400 to the Air Ambulance team, with the funds contributing significantly to the running costs of the helicopters which play an essential part in saving lives.

Janice Lipscombe, leader of Aluminium Can Recyclers for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, said: “We’re so grateful for the support Every Can Counts has given us and couldn’t be prouder of our team after winning the Green Can Award.  

“When we first began collecting recyclable items back in September 2019, we were only able to make a £12 donation to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance but since then it’s completely snowballed, with us now giving over 50 times that amount monthly.

“We could never have predicted the success we’ve seen and wouldn’t have been able to pull it off without the help of each and every member of our growing team, including Alison and Martin Kukla, who are a great support in the Winchester area.”

Natalie Russell, Support Worker Engagement Officer at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, said: “The Aluminium Recycling Group have been phenomenal champions of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, raising over £7,000 in 2023 alone.

“Not only do they help us save lives when every minute counts, but they’re protecting our environment, one can at a time. Our patients and their families are grateful for their hard work, and they thoroughly deserve this award.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager at Every Can Counts, added: “The efforts of Janice, David, and the rest of their team in Hampshire are just outstanding. Not only are they making a notable difference to the recycling levels in their area, but they’re also supporting the vital work of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, which is truly inspirational.

“Groups like theirs go to show that every effort – big or small – to recycle can have a lasting positive impact, both within local communities and on the environment.

“Aluminium can be recycled time after time and every empty drink can could be recycled and back on sale as a brand-new can in just 60 days. We can’t wait to see the team continue to make a difference this year and we hope they inspire others across the UK to set-up community-based recycling initiatives of their own.”   

To learn more about the Hampshire-based recycling group or to get involved, you can visit their Facebook Page.

Every Can Counts 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!

How Haileybury Set Up A Successful School Recycling Initiative
  • Phoebe Kelly

How Haileybury Set Up A Successful School Recycling Initiative

How Haileybury Set Up A Successful School Recycling Initiative 2560 1709 Phoebe Kelly

We have awarded Haileybury – a day and boarding school based in Hertfordshire – with a Green Can Award for establishing a drink can recycling initiative, which has already seen more than 6.8 kg of aluminium cans recycled since October 2022.

Haileybury’s Recycling Initiative

Haileybury’s Sustainability Committee is an extra-curricular group, made up of around 50 Sixth Form pupils who are all committed to making an environmental and social difference at the school and in the surrounding area.

In October 2022, the pupils ramped up their recycling efforts by installing 30 Every Can Counts recycling boxes in common areas around the school, as well as in each of the 12 boarding houses. These boxes helped to encourage their peers, teachers and visitors to recycle and has since resulted in over 6.8kg of cans being recycled!

Other Sustainability Initiatives at Haileybury

Sustainability is a key focus for Haileybury School which has worked hard to reduce its year-on-year energy consumption by 8% for the first 3 months of the year. This was achieved by installing energy efficient LED lighting and implementing the use of energy monitors to help drive behavioural change.

The school will also be banning single use plastic bottles on site from August 2023, has planted 400 more trees on its fields, and has installed two cycle shelters to encourage its pupils and staff to use more green transportation methods.

Alongside their sustainability efforts, Haileybury pupils also organise and support local community initiatives such as litter picking and organising afternoon tea for elderly members of the community.

Green Can Award Presentation

In addition to receiving an award, pupils from the Sustainability Committee were also rewarded with a workshop led by social enterprise, Casting Innovations. During this workshop pupils learned about the infinite recyclability of aluminium, as well as the melting process with pupils making their own individually casted keyring from recycled aluminium. 

What We Had To Say About the Award

Simon Heard, Deputy Master and Sustainability Lead at Haileybury was delighted with the award: “We feel very fortunate to have so many motivated pupils and committed staff to help push the sustainability strategy of the School, of which one aspect is recycling. It is fantastic, therefore, to team up with a company such as Every Can Counts. To win an award on top of this was very special and we are very proud of the pupils’ achievements.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts said: “We’re very impressed with the efforts of the pupils at Haileybury when it comes to recycling.

“Their Sustainability Committee is setting an excellent example of how the younger generation can get involved to implement change and look after the environment.

“Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and each and every drink can recycled could be back on the shop shelf in 60 days, so small changes, such as rolling out recycling bins at schools, really do add up to make a difference. We hope the group’s ongoing efforts inspire others within the community and the wider area to get involved to help keep the cycle going.”

How to Set Up A School Recycling Initiative

Introducing drink can recycling into schools has never been easier! As part of our mission to achieve a 100% drink can recycling rate, we offer FREE recycling packs to businesses and organisations looking to implement recycling initiatives. With these packs you will receive 3 cardboard collection boxes, can collection sacks and a selection of educational/promotional posters.

Click here to fill out the form and receive your recycling pack today!

Educational Resources About Aluminium Recycling

For any schools interested in introducing a range of multidisciplinary teaching resources on aluminium recycling, please visit the Learning Aluminium Website.

Learning Aluminium contains a selection of free, downloadable, curriculum-linked activities for pupils aged seven to 14. These resources can be used across several subjects including geography, design and technology, English and ICT.

Apply for a Green Can Award!

Have you helped to set up a can recycling initiative at your school? Or maybe you’ve introduced drink can recycling into the work place? If so, we believe that your efforts deserve to be recognised! Click here to find out more about our Green Can Awards.

Bodega 51 Presented With Green Can Award
  • 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.

Exeter City v Charlton Athletic Cans 4 City
  • 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/.

Crewe Recycling Initiative Wins Green Can Award
  • Phoebe Kelly

Crewe Recycling Initiative Wins Green Can Award

Crewe Recycling Initiative Wins Green Can Award 2560 1829 Phoebe Kelly

Local community group, Crewe Clean Team, have won a national recycling award for their ongoing efforts, which have seen over 200,000 drink cans recycled in the last decade!

On the left of the photo is David (chair of Crewe Clean Team) who is being presented with a Green Can Award Certificate by Phoebe (Programme Assistant at Every Can Counts). Behind them both is Arthur, another member of Crewe Clean Team. Everyone in the photo is laughing and happy.
On the left of the photo is Arthur (a member of the Crewe Clean Team) who is being presented with a Green Can Award Certificate by Chris on the right who is the Programme Manager of Every Can Counts. Behind them both is David, the chair of Crewe Clean Team who has his back to the camera, pointing at the Crewe Clean Team logo on his high-vis. Everyone who is facing the camera is smiling and proud of their achievement.
Photograph of two Every Can Counts team members and two Crewe Clean Team members recycling cans into an Every Can Counts collection box within a woodland setting. Each person is giving a thumbs up and is happy.

This week, a group of committed volunteers were presented with a Green Can Award in recognition of their achievements.

Crewe Clean Team has 200 members who take part in community litter picks throughout Crewe and the surrounding area, as well as collecting and recycling aluminium.

Aluminium recycling is a key focus for the group and volunteers have collected 200,000 aluminium cans for recycling since the initiative was established in 2012. As well as litter picking, the group collects aluminium packaging from local businesses, including hair foil from a salon, foil trays from a takeaway and empty drink cans from a local pub.

All aluminium is then taken and sold to local scrap metal business, Houston & Sons Limited.

The money raised is then reinvested into the scheme, including buying additional litter picking equipment and raising awareness of the group within the area to recruit volunteers.

Those interested in getting involved can get in touch via email enquiries@crewecleanteam.co.uk or else drop a message through their Facebook page @CreweCleanTeam. The team also work on other environmental initiatives, such as bulb-planting.

David McDonald, chair of Crewe Clean Team, said: “I couldn’t have predicted the scale of the scheme now when we set out 10 years ago, but it really has taken off. Over two hundred volunteers make up Crewe Clean Team, so it really is a joint effort and we’re all thrilled with the award.

“All of our members understand the importance of recycling and have communicated this message throughout the community. It’s been great to see how this has manifested in better habits within the town and a steady influx of new volunteers.

“We now pick up aluminium from a number of businesses, including pubs, hairdressers and takeaways, and take it to be recycled as soon as possible. I’d like to say thank you to them for making a special effort.  I’d also like to thank all of the members who contribute, whether by collecting the cans or by taking them to Houston and Sons.  In fact, a lot  of the aluminium collected is transported by wheelbarrow,   which helps us to be even more environmentally friendly!

“Everyone is so proud of what we’ve accomplished to date, but there is always more work to be done and we’re keen to welcome new faces.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts said: “We were so impressed with Crewe Clean Team’s efforts when it comes to recycling. Their volunteers have helped ensure that hundreds of thousands of drink cans have been recycled over the years – conserving valuable aluminium as these cans can be infinitely recycled and back on shop shelves, filled, in just 60 days.”

“Crewe Clean team is a stellar example of a community-led project that has made a real difference, and we hope they inspire others to make a contribution, no matter how small, to helping protect the environment.”

Crewe Clean team are presented with a Green Can Award certificate by the Every Can Counts team. The group of four is in a forest setting and are also shown recycling cans into an Every Can Counts collection box while being presented with their award. Everyone in the photo is happy and proud of their achievement.

Are you part of a recycling initiative which deserves to be recognised for going the extra mile when it comes to drink can recycling? Click here to find out more about our Green Can Awards.

Cans4City Green Can Award Presentation
  • ChrisUK

Exeter Recycling Initiative Wins Green Can Award

Exeter Recycling Initiative Wins Green Can Award 2419 1076 ChrisUK

Exeter City Council and Exeter City Football Club (ECFC) have been presented with a Green Can Award for their innovative recycling initiative, Cans 4 City, which encourages Exeter football fans to recycle used drink cans while also raising money for charity.

Cans 4 City during the Sky Bet League 2 between Exeter City and Hartlepool United at St James Park, Exeter on 29 Jan.
Cans 4 City during the Sky Bet League 2 between Exeter City and Hartlepool United at St James Park, Exeter on 29 Jan.
Cans 4 City during the Sky Bet League 2 between Exeter City and Hartlepool United at St James Park, Exeter on 29 Jan.

 The prize-giving took place during half-time in Saturday’s match against Hartlepool United, with over 5,000 fans in attendance.   

Who Are Cans4City?

Since 2020, the initiative has collected nearly seven tonnes of aluminium packaging to raise more than £6,000 for projects and initiatives run both by the club and its partner charity, Exeter City Community Trust (ECCT).  In recent years, donations have been put towards Exeter City Community Trust’s Supported Housing project, a mental health programme for ECFC Academy, ECFC’s Women’s Team and a number of improvements to St James Park and its Memorial Garden.  

The Cans 4 City recycling initiative was launched back in 2005 by Exeter City Football Club as a means to support 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, Cans 4 City 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.  

As well as collecting aluminium donations from designated drop-off points, Cans 4 City raises money by partnering with community litter picks and beach cleans across Devon and Cornwall.

What We Had To Say About the Award

Matt Hulland, Resource Recovery Manager for Exeter City Council, who helped set up the initiative at the club, said: “We’re so glad that our work is being celebrated with this national award. Cans 4 City has achieved so much already, thanks to our amazing volunteers and the club’s fans too, as they’ve contributed more than half of the aluminium cans recycled since 2020.  

“I really think we’ve tapped into something clever with this initiative. By unlocking the monetary value of our waste, we’ve succeeding in helping both the planet and our local community.”  

Cllr David Harvey, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor for City Management, said: “This is a great initiative, not only helping the environment by preventing cans going to waste unnecessarily, but also helping raise valuable funding for Exeter City Community Trust. I can’t speak more highly of the scheme which is fully deserving of its recognition at national level.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “We were extremely impressed with what Cans 4 City has accomplished. Not only has the initiative helped to keep a huge number of endlessly recyclable drink cans in circulation, but the money raised by doing so has been put to good use in the local area.  

“This is a fantastic example of a community-led project working with its local council to deliver real benefits to both the local community and the wider environment. We hope other organisations around the country get inspired by what Cans 4 City has achieved and follow in the footsteps of this great initiative.” 

Find Out More About the Cans4City Recycling Initiative

To find out more about the Cans 4 City scheme, visit https://news.exeter.gov.uk/cans-4-city-supporting-exeter-city-community-trust/.  

What is the Green Can Award?

  • This national recycling award recognises businesses, organisations, people and other recycling initiatives who are going above and beyond when it comes to drink can recycling.
  • We want to put a spotlight on those who are going the extra mile to make their cans count, and inspire others to follow in their footsteps!
  • Whether you’ve set up new recycling points, started running workplace awareness events, recruiting a recycling champion or you’re collecting cans for a charitable cause –  we want to hear from you!

How Can I Apply for this Recycling Award?

Any business, organisation or individual whose activities have promoted can recycling and/or demonstrably increased recycling rates can apply. Visit our web page to apply now!

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