Recycling Award

  • 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.

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.

Enter your
text here