Green Can Awards

  • Phoebe Kelly

75,000 Cans, 1 Million People & Recycling Habits That Made an Infinite Impact in 2025

75,000 Cans, 1 Million People & Recycling Habits That Made an Infinite Impact in 2025 2560 1708 Phoebe Kelly


We can hardly believe the end of 2025 is in sight… and what an incredible year we’ve had at Every Can Counts! Think: an Infinity Room made from recycled cans, a summer filled with festival fields and so many drink cans, a brand-new mascot who literally can’t walk ten feet without causing a scene, and a global study digging into what people really think about recycling.

From iconic installations to muddy fields, we spent the year celebrating the power of the humble aluminium can – and inspiring thousands of people to make their empty cans count!

Here’s a quick look at how we made every can count in 2025…

Our Installations & Exhibitions

Our Infinity Room Lands at at Life Science Centre

Life Science Centre in Newcastle

We kicked off 2025 with a trip up north to launch the Every Can Counts Infinity Room at Life Science Centre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Made from 1,500 recycled cans and wrapped in 25 square metres of mirrors, this giant walk-in drink transports visitors into a kaleidoscope of infinite floating aluminium cans. Inside, a narrator guides guests through the journey of a drink can, while the mirrored illusion shows everyone the infinite possibilities that come from recycling your empty drink cans.

Read more about the launch here.

They See Me Rollin’ in Preston

To celebrate Earth Day, we partnered with Preston City Council and local artist, Shawn Sharpe, to create a brand-new CANvas design during the Preston Egg Roll! The event saw thousands of locals gather in Avenham Park on Easter Monday to roll their chocolate egg down the hill and enjoy workshops, music, and street theatre.

The CANvas wall – made from over 700 recycled drink cans – was painted live by Shawn Sharpe during the event. The installation aimed to inspire people to take individual action for the environment, no matter how small it may seem – as even small actions like recycling your empty cans add up to make a big difference.

The finished CANvas has now found a permanent home at Lancashire County Council’s new Eco Town environmental education centre in Farington Waste Recovery Park.

Click here to read more about the CANvas.

Our Summer at Events and Festivals

What. A. Summer.

From Latitude and Download Festival to our first appearances at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, LIDO Festival, Victorious Festival, and Radio 2 in the Park, our team of recycling ambassadors were out in force!

We brought the recycling message to 15 events across the UK, reaching more than 1,056,000 attendees. Our ambassadors were on the ground at 12 of these events, completing 7,056 questionnaires with event-goers and collecting over 70,000 empty cans along the way!

We expanded our soapbox fleet too, with Chitty Chitty Can Can now refurbished and motorised!

And, of course, 2025 was the year we introduced Canzee – our iconic mascot who became a fan favourite everywhere he went.

Want the full lowdown? Read our summer round-up blog here.

On-The-Ground Insights

Throughout the year, our ambassadors collected on-the-ground data about recycling attitudes across the UK by inviting members of the public to complete our recycling questionnaire.

In total:

  • 7,056 questionnaires were completed.
  • 97% of respondents said they’d learned something new about can recycling after completing our questionnaire!

What People Told Us…

How many times can aluminium be recycled?

  • 63% correctly answered ‘Forever’
  • 16% said 100 times
  • 12% said 5 times
  • 9% said 1,000 times

Where are more can recycling points needed?

  • On the street – 59%
  • Beaches & green spaces – 59%
  • Shopping centres – 55%
  • Music & sports events – 49%
  • Universities & schools – 47%
  • Petrol stations & transport hubs – 46%

What would help you to recycle more in your day-to-day-life?

  • 57% said more recyclable packaging
  • 52% said they’d like to see more recycling points
  • 41% said they’d like more incentives (e.g. helping charities, better rewards, discounts etc.)
  • 37% said they’d like more information on how recycling works and why it matters

Brand Partnerships

We teamed up with some incredible drink brands to amplify the recycling message and increase can collection across the UK.

  • We teamed up with Red Bull in Reading city centre during Reading Festival, where anyone who brought us an empty can to recycle could charge their phone for free! We also brought our can cages to Red Bull activations at HYROX Cardiff and Tramlines Festival in Sheffield to help drive drink can recycling in high-energy environments.
  • Most Wanted Wines invited us to Brighton On The Beach and Brighton Pride, where our ambassadors collected empty cans while spreading the recycling message to crowds by the seafront.
  • We joined Singha Beer at 11 Magic of Thailand events across the UK with our iconic Heart Can Cage.

Canzee’s Festival Fame

2025 was also the year Canzee – our googly-eyed, 300-can mascot – became a celebrity!

  • He made his festival debut at Download, where we learned he physically cannot take more than two steps without being swarmed for photos.
  • Greg James, Sara Cox, Jamie Laing and Paddy McGuinness posed with him backstage at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Radio 2 in the Park!
  • He appeared on the Kids Stage and People’s Lounge Stage at Victorious Festival, and even hyped the crowds at the front of the main stage at Radio 2 in the Park.
  • He starred in his own series across our social media channels – “Canzee’s Fanzees”. The Canzee fandom? Very real.

A Recycling Survey Gone Global

To gain a deeper understanding of people’s recycling habits, we surveyed 16,000 people across 16 countries — analysing habits, knowledge gaps, and the generational divide in support for recycling schemes.

Our global study reveals a disconnect: people care deeply about the planet, but many are unsure whether current systems actually work. Younger generations, in particular, are calling for solutions that they can trust, understand, and see real, tangible results from. We delve into what drives this mindset and explore how making recycling more engaging and better understood can help close this engagement gap.

Click here to learn more!

Our 2025 Recycling Superheroes

This year’s Green Can Awards went to two brilliant winners:

Their commitment to sustainability continues to inspire us and their communities.

Think you could be next year’s winner? Apply on our website today!   

2026… We’re Ready!

Thank you to everyone who chatted with us, recycled with us and helped us spread the recycling message in 2025!

We’re working on exciting plans for next year and can’t wait to be back out there inspiring people to make their cans count.

Let’s make 2026 another year where we move closer to a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.

Stay tuned and remember to keep recycling your empty drink cans!

  • Phoebe Kelly

Link19 College Wins Big for Sustainability with Green Can Award

Link19 College Wins Big for Sustainability with Green Can Award 2560 1704 Phoebe Kelly

LINK19 College in Gravesend, Kent, has been recognised for its commitment to recycling and sustainability with a Green Can Award!  

The college, which has a total of 40 learners, has taken steps to improve its recycling practices and raise awareness of the importance of protecting the planet, including the installation of dedicated aluminium recycling bins for learners and staff.

Using these bins, LINK19 has collected over 500kg of aluminium cans in the last year, which were sent to the Rochester branch of European Metal Recycling, generating £465 in total.

LINK19 has reinvested these funds into the college and other community causes, including purchasing PPE to support the work of Gravesham Street Champions and Surfers Against Sewage, other organisations working to protect the planet. The college has also installed vegetable planters to allow learners to start their own growth projects.

In addition to receiving an award, LINK19 learners will also be rewarded with a workshop led by social enterprise, Casting Innovations, during which they will learn about the infinite recyclability of aluminium, as well as the melting process, with learners making their own individually designed keyring from recycled aluminium.  

Alongside their work at the college, many of LINK19’s learners are involved in community clean-up programmes through the Street Champions initiative, which brings volunteers together to enhance the local environment in Gravesham.   

Maria Barry, Assistant Lead at LINK19 College, said: “I’m so proud of our learners and staff for going above and beyond their academic studies to make a difference to the local community and our planet and earning this recognition from Every Can Counts.    

“The dedication they’ve shown over the last 12 months is amazing and I know they’ll continue to build on their efforts, helping our college to do bigger and better things to care for the environment.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager at Every Can Counts, added: “The learners and staff at LINK19 College are an inspiration and are thoroughly deserving of our Green Can Award.  

“Their recycling efforts are a brilliant example of how local action can make a significant environmental impact thanks to the endless recyclability of aluminium.

“We can’t wait to see what the college does next and hope that they inspire other communities across the UK to take action – because every can, and every effort, counts.”  

Learn more

The Green Can Awards is a national recycling award designed to recognise the businesses, organisations and people that are going above and beyond when it comes to drink can recycling. Any business, organisation or individual (based in the UK or Ireland) whose activities have promoted can recycling and/or demonstrably increased recycling rates can apply.

Whether it’s setting up new recycling points, running workplace awareness events, recruiting a recycling champion or collecting cans for a charitable cause – however you’ve made your cans count, we want to hear about it!

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be our next winner, click here to apply.

  • Phoebe Kelly

Community Group in Essex Recognised with Green Can Award After Recycling 1.5 Million Cans

Community Group in Essex Recognised with Green Can Award After Recycling 1.5 Million Cans 2560 1704 Phoebe Kelly

A community group in North East Essex has been recognised with a Green Can Award after recycling over 1.5 million aluminium cans since 2019.

The Essex-based community group – Every Can Counts Supporting The Welfare Park Parkeston – has members ranging from seven to 80 years old, and brings together local residents, pubs, clubs, and litter pickers to collect and recycle used drink cans across the Tendring area of North East Essex.

To make recycling more accessible, Every Can Counts Supporting The Welfare Park Parkeston has also installed 16 recycling collection bins across North East Essex, allowing even more locals to get involved in their sustainability efforts.

The group has recycled over 1.5 million cans since 2019, an average of 250,000 per year. This equates to £3,750, all of which has been invested into The Welfare Park in Parkeston, a safe space and play area for children of all ages and physical abilities.

Money raised by recycling the cans is put towards the yearly insurance and inspection costs of the park, which is entirely volunteer run and funded and also hosts local events such as summer fetes, as well as being home to play and gym equipment.

Click here to learn more about The Welfare Park Parkeston and the incredible work that they get up to.

Janette Allan, leader of Every Can Counts Supporting The Welfare Park Parkeston, said: “This award is a great acknowledgement of all the hard work our brilliant volunteers put into recycling aluminium cans in our local area. We’re incredibly proud of our efforts and know that collecting over 1.5 million used cans is a real achievement, so to be recognised by Every Can Counts is the icing on the cake.

“Our members are very passionate about protecting the planet and our local area as well as looking after The Welfare Park, a space at the centre of our community. We’re excited to see where our recycling journey leads next!”

Bill Davidson, Chairman of the Welfare Park Committee, said: “The Welfare Park recycling initiative started in my back garden in June 2014 and has grown into a thriving initiative since then, supporting our precious Welfare Park while also ensuring used cans are disposed of correctly.

“Over the past 11 years, our project has become a beacon of sustainability across Parkeston, Harwich, Oakley, and even further afield, with people from as far as London contributing their cans to support the park.

“I’m really proud of our achievements and I’m incredibly grateful for the support of Every Can Counts, alongside each and every one of our volunteers who really do go the extra mile and make all the difference.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager at Every Can Counts, added: “The team behind the Welfare Park community can collection are an inspiration and are thoroughly deserving of our Green Can Award.

“Their initiative is a brilliant example of how local action can make a significant environmental impact – thanks to aluminium’s high value and infinite recyclability – while also raising money for a cause close to home.

“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.”

Learn more

The Green Can Awards is a national recycling award designed to recognise the businesses, organisations and people that are going above and beyond when it comes to drink can recycling. Any business, organisation or individual (based in the UK or Ireland) whose activities have promoted can recycling and/or demonstrably increased recycling rates can apply.

Whether it’s setting up new recycling points, running workplace awareness events, recruiting a recycling champion or collecting cans for a charitable cause – however you’ve made your cans count, we want to hear about it!

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be our next winner, click here to apply.

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.

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