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!

  • ChrisUK

Friends of Wombwell Park win Green Can Award

Friends of Wombwell Park win Green Can Award 2560 1704 ChrisUK

The hard efforts of a Barnsley based community group has resulted in worthy recognition; the ‘Friends of Wombwell Park’ have been awarded a Green Can Award for the steps they have taken to introduce recycling facilities to Wombwell Park. 

Previously there were no recycling bins anywhere in Wombwell Park and park users had to dispose of all materials in general waste litter bins.  The Friends of Wombwell Park saw an opportunity to increase recycling rates and set about forging a partnership with the recycling programme, Every Can Counts.  There are now drink can collection points set up throughout the park, making it easier for the local community to recycle their empty cans when they are out and about.  The group has raised awareness about these new recycling points by displaying Every Can Counts posters and signs around the park, as well as actively promoting the new facilities on social media.

In addition to the environmental benefits of recycling drink cans, the group is harnessing the value of aluminium to raise funds for further improvements to the park.  The money raised by recycling the cans collected is put towards various projects to benefit park users, including improvements to the popular skatepark area.

Carmel Seston, Recycling Champion for the Friends of Wombwell Park, said: “We had a wonderful afternoon at the presentation of the Green Can Award.  It was well attended by members of the local community and provided an opportunity for sharing ideas on the expansion of this project to include a wider area and a greater range of recycled materials.  The Every Can Counts programme provides a focus for community groups to work together to promote recycling.  By working together, we have helped to inspire positive behaviour change in the local area by promoting recycling behaviours, and it’s fantastic to have this recognised with a Green Can Award.”

Chris Latham-Warde, Every Can Counts Programme Manager, said: “It’s inspiring to see the work the Friends of Wombwell Park have done to engage the local community with recycling behaviours.  By establishing can collection points in the park and raising awareness of the many benefits of recycling drink cans, the group is tackling some of the most common barriers to recycling and inspiring more people to do the right thing with their empty cans.”

Since setting up can recycling points in the park, the group collects around 250 drink cans every week and continues to use this recycling activity to raise funds for further improvements to the park.

  • ChrisUK

Beach Guardian wins Green Can Award for Recycling

Beach Guardian wins Green Can Award for Recycling 2560 1707 ChrisUK

Beach Guardian based in Padstow, Cornwall have received a national recycling award for their outstanding work in recycling drink cans and raising awareness of the impact to the environment by people not recycling.

The Every Can Counts Green Can Award has been awarded to Beach Guardian co-founders – father and daughter duo Rob Stevenson and Emily Stevenson.

Beach Guardian was established in 2017 and organises voluntary beach cleans, on average one every week with around 25 people volunteering.  Litter and marine plastics are collected, taken back to their Lab in Padstow where it is sorted and cleaned, to take into schools in Cornwall and run art and educational workshops.

They also engage with businesses and organisations to encourage their staff to volunteer and to reduce their reliance on unnecessary single use plastics. This has meant getting retailers, shops and takeaways to switch from drinks in plastic bottles to drinks in cans, including brands such as Life Water and Canowater. Beach Guardian have used social media to regularly post about their activities. This has encouraged people within Cornwall to save and recycle their cans which has meant a huge increase in awareness amongst the various coastal communities.

Recycling bins have been distributed throughout Cornwall to the Council, cafes and shops, including outdoor ones at the Falmouth Maritime Museum, Old Macdonald’s Farm and Rick Stein’s restaurants in Padstow and Newquay. Beach Guardian have teamed up with Henry Orchard and Sons to recycle all the drink cans collected.

Henry Orchard says “Here in the UK we recycle twice as much as we did 15 years ago, but there’s still a long way to go. We’re proud to do our bit with our involvement with Every Can Counts and Beach Guardian, as well as our own safe and efficient metal and waste electricals processing. We have been taking in aluminium cans and giving a donation to the Beach Guardian project for every bag we receive as part of this initiative.”

Presenting the award Kate Cole Programme Manager for Every Can Counts says “It is an honour to present a Green Can Award to Beach Guardian. This is a fantastic example of how collecting and recycling drinks cans and other metal packaging not only generates much needed funds it also makes a significant contribution to the environment.”

Rob Stevenson Co-Founder and Director of Beach Guardian says “We would like to see every business switch from selling drinks in Plastic Bottles to Aluminium Cans. Even with the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme, plastic bottles can only be recycled up to 18 times whereas Aluminium can be recycled and used again and again to make new packaging and Aluminium is endlessly recyclable cutting down on waste and saving energy too.”

Every Can Counts is a free to use recycling initiative that aims to increase the number of drinks cans recycled, whether at work or while out and about.

The programme aims to increase the number of drinks cans recycled, whether at work or whilst out and about, by providing practical advice and support, including free communication materials and help with finding a recycling collection partner.

  • ChrisUK

Foil For Snappy Wins Every Can Counts Green Can Award

Foil For Snappy Wins Every Can Counts Green Can Award 2560 1709 ChrisUK

The York recycling initiative, Foil for Snappy, have received a national award for their outstanding work in recycling drink cans and other aluminium packaging.

What is the York Recycling Initiative, Foil for Snappy?

Foil for Snappy was created by Karen Nash in December 2012 to help raise funds for The Snappy Trust.  The Snappy Trust, formerly known as Snappy (Special Needs Activities and Play Provision for York), is a registered charity supporting children and young people with wide ranging disabilities, from across the York area and was originally set up back in 1985.

Why We Chose Foil for Snappy for a Green Can Award

The Every Can Counts Green Can Award has been awarded to Karen Nash and her Foil for Snappy project in recognition of her hard work and dedication to improving aluminium recycling in York.  The project collects drink cans, foil and household cables for recycling in York.  The material is sold to L. Clancey & Sons – an aluminium recycling centre based on the outskirts of York in Murton.  Since its establishment Foil for Snappy has recycled over 7 tonnes of aluminium material, raising £5000 for The Snappy Trust.

The Foil for Snappy project has gone from strength to strength over the years and now operates over 50 collection points across York in a variety of locations, including supermarket car parks, community buildings and local businesses.

Karen and Anne from the York Recycling initiative, Foil for Snappy, are presented with an award by Every Can Counts.
Karen Nash from Foil For Snappy poses with Chris Latham-Warde from Every Can Counts behind a drink can collection box. They both hold a Green Can Award certificate and are each recycling an empty drink can.
An empty drink can being recycled into an Every Can Counts Collection box.

What We Had to Say About the Award

Presenting the award, Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said “Karen has achieved brilliant results since starting Foil for Snappy.  Thanks to Karen, York residents have the opportunity to support an important local charity whilst also doing the right thing for the environment by recycling their drink cans and other aluminium packaging.  The project’s work is of benefit to both the local community and the wider environment, so it’s a privilege to present Karen with this Green Can Award.”

Karen Nash, the Project Leader for Foil for Snappy, said “The Snappy Trust supports over 300 children with additional needs including my own son.  By recycling what others throw away we are fundraising for them and saving the planet at the same time which is very satisfying.  I never imagined that asking friends of Snappy to collect a few Christmas drink cans and mince pie cases to raise a little bit of extra money could become a city-wide aluminium recycling collection.  I am very proud of what we have achieved and to receive this national award in recognition of our hard work is very special.”

Anne Stamp, Service Manager at The Snappy Trust said “We are incredibly grateful for the Foil for Snappy project.  Not only has it raised awareness for The Snappy Trust but also for the environment, so much so that even the young people who attend Snappy have become more responsible with their cans.”

What is the Green Can Award Initiative?

  • This national recycling award recognises businesses, organisations and people 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!

Photo of Eco-Workshop team being presented with a Green Can Award which is a national recycling reward presented by Every Can Counts.
  • ChrisUK

Eco-Workshop Win a National Recycling Award

Eco-Workshop Win a National Recycling Award 2560 1652 ChrisUK

Eco-Workshop (based in Clifford Chambers, Stratford upon Avon) have received a national recycling award for their outstanding work in recycling drink cans and raising funds for charity.

Every Can Counts presented the local social enterprise with a Green Can Award to celebrate their recycling efforts over the past three years.

Who are Eco-Workshop?

Eco-Workshop are a local social enterprise that was set up 5 years ago to provide opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and autism. Attending ECO (enterprise, community, opportunity) Workshop gives varied, purposeful work and meaning to the participants, enabling them to become part of the local work community.

Why We Chose Eco-Workshop for a National Recycling Award

Over the last three years they have collected 370kg of aluminium (with 26,270 cans crushed so far) and this figure continues to grow and grow.

Eco-Workshop has gathered a lot of local support and customers from a variety of sources including supermarkets, community collection points and local businesses.

What We Had to Say About the Award

Presenting the award Kate Cole Programme Manager for Every Can Counts says “It is an honour to present a Green Can Award to Eco-Workshop. This is a fantastic example of how collecting and recycling drinks cans and other metal packaging not only generates much needed funds it also makes a significant contribution to the environment”.

Catherine Adams, Director – Eco-Workshop says “Collecting, sorting and crushing used drinks cans has and continues to be a very popular work activity for the team and our local community. We have enjoyed working with Every Can Counts who gave us very helpful initial guidance and continue to give us ongoing support. We are so proud that since 2015, 370kg of cans have been collected and taken to our local metal merchants for recycling, which equates to 26,270 cans crushed so far!”

What is the Green Can Award Initiative?

  • This national recycling award recognises businesses, organisations and people 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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