recycle

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in Glasgow
  • ChrisUK

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow Arrives in Glasgow for COP26

The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow Arrives in Glasgow for COP26 2560 1863 ChrisUK

To mark COP26, the #EveryCanCounts rainbow archway is being displayed in Shawlands Civic Square in partnership with Glasgow City Council to remind people of the importance of recycling empty drink cans.

The eye-catching installation, in front of Langside Halls, is made from more than 2,500 brightly coloured recycled drink cans and measures four metres high and seven metres wide.

It took four people more than five hours to construct and will remain in place until 4th November to spread the recycling message over the first week of the climate change conference.

Recycling in Glasgow

  • Our own research suggests that more than 2.8 million drink cans are bought and used each week throughout Glasgow.
  • Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and recycling just one can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours.
  • If all of these cans were recycled, it would give greenhouse gas savings equivalent to taking more than 7,200 cars off the city’s roads for a week.
  • Eight in 10 of those questioned say they always use recycling bins if they are available in public places, with more than seven in 10 claiming that they would recycle more while out and about if there were a greater number of recycling bins.
  • In fact, almost two thirds of Glaswegians say they have become more concerned about the environment and their impact on it over the last 12 months. Half believe this is due to Glasgow’s involvement in the conference.  

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said:

“The rainbow is our way of reminding people about the importance of recycling cans at a time when the environment is firmly on the city’s agenda.

“Recycling an empty drink can is such an easy thing that each of us can do to help the planet. It might not seem like much, but every can is endlessly recyclable and making a can from recycled metal rather than raw materials uses 95% less energy and produces 95% less greenhouse gas emissions.

“In 2020, a record four out of five drink cans sold in the UK were recycled, given peoples’ lifestyles changed dramatically and we spent much of the year in lockdown. We want to continue making progress now the country has opened back up and our ultimate goal is to achieve a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.”

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction at Glasgow City Council, said:

“This installation is a reminder of the importance of recycling, and the significant environmental benefits it brings.  We can all play our part in reducing emissions by recycling as much as we can.”

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, said:

I am thrilled to see the Every Can Counts rainbow in my constituency. It acts as a key reminder of the importance of recycling more and keeping our streets tidy over the course of the landmark COP26 Summit and beyond.

I’m looking forward to seeing people share their photos of this impressive rainbow sculpture, whilst remembering the message behind it. Shifting towards infinitely recyclable materials like aluminium and keeping these materials in circulation by recycling is something we can all do to progress towards a truly circular economy, and to meet the aims of this pivotal Summit in Glasgow.

Visit the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow for COP26

The rainbow makes for an ideal photo backdrop, and Every Can Counts is running a social media photo competition offering the chance to win a £100 shopping voucher and a £500 donation to an environmental charity of your choice. To enter, take a snap of the rainbow and upload it to social media using #COP26Glasgow and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK on Facebook/Instagram or @EveryCanCounts on Twitter.

What is COP26?

COP26 is the 2021 United Nations climate change conference. For nearly 30 years the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits. These are known as COPs – which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. In that time climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global priority.

This year will be the 26th annual summit, therefore giving it then name COP26. If you want to find out more about COP26, you can visit the website here: https://ukcop26.org/

Every Can Counts at Birmingham Pride 2021
  • ChrisUK

RECYCLE WEEK PART 2: BIRMINGHAM PRIDE

RECYCLE WEEK PART 2: BIRMINGHAM PRIDE 1200 1600 ChrisUK

Every Can Counts partners with Bullring & Grand Central and Birmingham Hippodrome to celebrate Birmingham Pride and encourage everyone taking part in the celebrations to recycle their empty cans.

The #EveryCan Counts Rainbow, created from over 2,500 recycled cans, has arrived in Birmingham city centre. The installation appeared on Central Street outside the Bullring overnight on Thursday 23rd September and will be on display until the close of Birmingham’s Pride 2021 celebrations on Sunday 26th September.

Kicking off the weekend celebrations, the #EveryCanCounts Rainbow received a special welcome on Friday afternoon from glam disco king Boogaloo Stu on the snail stage and a drive time takeover with Gaydio. An Every Can Counts team of recycling ambassadors are in action around the rainbow installation all weekend collecting cans and spreading the recycling message.

The rainbow’s arrival in Birmingham means that the installation has visited the UK’s two largest cities during Recycle Week 2021. From St Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of London to the centre of Birmingham in time for the Pride celebrations, we’re having a CANtastic week raising awareness about the benefits of can recycling and inspiring people to recycle more!

The rainbow makes for an ideal photo backdrop, and we’re running a social media photo competition offering the chance to win a £250 shopping voucher. To enter, take a snap of the rainbow and upload it to social media using #EveryCanCounts and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK (Instagram/Facebook) or @EveryCanCounts (Twitter). For full competition terms & conditions visit: www.everycancounts.co.uk/recycleweek2021.




The #EveryCanCounts Rainbow in front of St Paul's Cathedral, London
  • ChrisUK

RECYCLE WEEK PART 1: LONDON

RECYCLE WEEK PART 1: LONDON 2560 1707 ChrisUK

Every Can Counts celebrates Recycle Week 2021 by partnering with City of London Corporation to bring a giant rainbow installation to the heart of the capital. The eye-catching archway, created from over 2,500 recycled cans, appeared in Carter Lane Gardens overnight on Thursday 16th September and will remain in place until Thursday 23rd.




The installation aims to inspire more people to recycle their empty cans by highlighting the environmental benefits delivered through can recycling.

In the first three months of this year, the total volume of domestic recycling collected in the City of London was up by nearly 10 tonnes on 2020, as lockdown restrictions made it easier for people to recycle at home.

However, Every Can Counts’ own research suggests that seven in 10 of those in London say they have noticed more litter over the past year, and most of these people believe this is as a direct result of the pandemic.

67% of those surveyed say they take packaging home to recycle if there aren’t recycling facilities in public places, with nearly eight in 10 (78%) claiming that they would recycle more while out and about if there were a greater number of recycling bins.

According to Every Can Counts, more than 30 million drink cans are bought and used each week across London. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and recycling just one can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours. If all of these cans were recycled, it would give greenhouse gas savings equivalent to taking more than 30,000 cars off the capital’s roads for a week.

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said:

“You couldn’t really pick a more iconic London location than right in front of St Paul’s Cathedral. And the workmanship that’s gone into the installation really is quite impressive.

“The rainbow is our way of reminding people about the importance of recycling cans at a time when the environment is on the agenda, ahead of Recycle Week and in the lead-up to the UN Climate Change Conference.

“Recycling an empty drink can is a small thing that each of us can do for the benefit of the environment, and these small actions all add up. Not only are drink cans endlessly recyclable, but making a can from recycled metal uses 95% less energy and produces 95% less greenhouse gas emissions. We’re here to raise awareness of these significant benefits and inspire more people to make a difference by doing the right thing with their empty cans.

“In 2020, a record four out of five drink cans sold in the UK were recycled, as we spent much of the year locked down at home with easy access to recycling bins. We now want to keep this up as things return to normality, and our goal at Every Can Counts is to continue making progress towards a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.”

Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Environmental Services Health Committee, Keith Bottomley, said:

“It’s fantastic to be part of such an innovative campaign as part of Recycle Week this year.

“For us, promoting recycling and protecting the environment are top priorities.

“Those who work, visit and live in the Square Mile are right to expect a very high standard of environmental sustainability. As a world-leading financial centre, they deserve the best.”

Nickie Aiken, MP for Cities of London and Westminster, said:

“It’s wonderful to see this eye-catching rainbow in the heart of my constituency. It will be a timely reminder to all our visitors returning to the city centre to recycle more and keep our streets tidy.

“I’m looking forward to seeing people share their photos of this impressive rainbow sculpture, while remembering the message behind it. Recycling an empty drink can is one simple thing that each of us can do for the benefit of the environment and it will help us progress towards a truly circular economy.”

The rainbow makes for an ideal photo backdrop, and Every Can Counts is running a social media photo competition offering the chance to win a £250 shopping voucher. To enter, take a snap of the rainbow and upload it to social media using #EveryCanCounts and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK (Instagram/Facebook) or @EveryCanCounts (Twitter). For full competition terms & conditions visit: www.everycancounts.co.uk/recycleweek2021.

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