A whopping 90% of Irish consumers say that since the Covid-19 outbreak, it is more important than ever to take care of our planet and the environment, a European-wide study by drink can recycling initiative, Every Can Counts, has found.

Almost all (92%) of the survey respondents in Ireland said it is an urgent task to tackle recycling, while 90% said that considering recycling and its importance for the planet is an obligation of all citizens and consumers, not just world leaders. Despite this however, the survey also discovered that in these uncertain economic times, 55% of Irish consumers say the economy is currently a priority over the environment.

In the wake of Sir David Attenborough’s latest film, A Life On Our Planet, as well as his joining Instagram at 94 and achieving one million followers in record-breaking time, it seems environmental issues are finally coming to the fore. Within the film’s poignant and hard-hitting introduction, Attenborough says, “The natural world is fading. This film is my witness statement and my vision for the future. The story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake, and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right.”

It seems this seed has been well and truly planted in the minds of the Irish people with 78% stating that during the pandemic they have recycled more than ever, suggesting that the increase in time spent at home has made it easier for people to do their bit and recycle more. Only 61% however, said they often or always recycle when at work and even less when out and about at 47%.

91% of Irish respondents said they would like to do more when it comes to recycling and a massive 82% feeling that more needs to be done in general to encourage recycling.

Of the 14 European countries surveyed, Romania, Hungary, Poland and Italy came up top trumps when quantifying the importance of recycling with scores of 90% plus. Ireland came in 9th place with 80%, and the Netherlands registered last, with just 52% saying they think recycling is important.

However, when looking at how Covid-19 has changed the minds of the masses regarding the environment and taking care of the planet, Ireland is ranked up top in joint 3rd place, alongside the UK and Greece (90%), whilst Poland comes in last with just 73%.

Below: European countries ranked in order of agreeing with the following statement: After Covid-19 it is more important than ever to take care of our planet / environment and recycle.

Romania 94%

Italy 93%

Ireland 90%

UK 90%

Greece 90%

Spain 89%

Hungary 87%

Serbia 87%

France 86%

Austria 84%

Belgium 82%

Netherlands 79%

Czech Republic 78%

Poland 73%

Every Can Counts is delighted to support the return of the Irish International Ska and Reggae Festival this Saturday, featuring the  best acts from around the world in the first ever online version of this famous musical celebration. This is a unique opportunity to show your support for Ska and Reggae artists, to be the audience they miss so much.

Expect sets and commentary from the biggest names from around the world, including Jamaica’s The Pyramid & Monty Naismith, Neville Staples of The Specials, Serbia’s Paso, Spain’s Radio Rude, Germany’s Vibe Tribe and many more…

The festival is embracing sustainability and is partnering with Every Can Counts to encourage audiences to recycle every drinks can consumed during the event. There will, of course, be prizes for the best recyclers on the day!

So get the cans in, tune in, and recycle on repeat!

WHEN: Sat 24 Oct: from 2pm UK/3pm CET until 12am/1am

Or via the Facebook page

Get the Cans In Competition Terms and Conditions

• We welcome entries from people of legal drinking age – we will ask the winner to proof of age.
• Up to 10 entries are allowed per person.
• Photos and comments posted as entries may be used by Every Can Counts for its own marketing and communications purposes.
• To be included in the prize draw, participants must post a picture of the can they are enjoying while watching the festival in the comments of our competition post.  Or in the case of instagram, post your photo as a post, or in stories tagging @everycancountsireland.
• Entries must be submitted before 02.00 on Sunday 25th of October 2020 in order to be included in the prize draw.
• Every Can Counts will determine a winner from the totality of entries received using an online randomizer.
• The winner will be contacted directly within 5 days of the competition’s closing date.
• The selected prize winner will be offered 1 x Sony Extra Bass SRS-XB12 Portable Bluetooth Speaker and hamper of canned craft beers, delivered to their home address- no cash equivalent will be offered
• To claim the prize winners must respond within three days of being contacted.

At Every Can Counts we believe the summer months are made for eating and drinking outdoors.  The Irish weather may sometimes like to challenge that theory, but armed with rain jackets, a whole host of flimsy umbrellas and a Child of Prague statue we’re still determined to get out there and make the most of it.  

Once you have the know-how you can cope with just about anything, and the same can be said of having a delicious on-the-go recycling friendly  meal in your favourite park, beach, or even in the back garden.  Whether you’re hosting a family BBQ, or picnicking in a local park, beauty spot, or at the seaside, a little bit of prep goes along way for you and the planet alike.

During the summer months I take Every Can Counts on tour, travelling to all sorts of events across the island of Ireland, encouraging drink can recycling.  From the many pitfalls and experiences I have had at these events and conversations with other seasoned festival folks and colleagues I’ve compiled a few tips to make your outdoor feast as green and delicious as possible:

• Reusable cup – they’re brilliant, but if you’re like me and hate carrying extra things you might find them cumbersome. So I’ve opted for a stojo coffee cup that folds into itself, it’s the same size as a compact mirror (which I also don’t carry with me).  However if you’re not willing to invest in something fancy, stackable cups will do just as well.  Top tip – bring a small wet bag to place them in after use so the dregs don’t get around your bag.
• Water bottle – Again, I hate carrying extra things so I choose to carry an empty water bottle, or only half fill it, and seek opportunities to refill it if I need water throughout the day. Parks, beaches and beauty spots have really upped their game when it comes to providing drinking water on tap.  Of course my water bottle is made of metal because, not only does metal recycle forever, it also keeps cold drinks cooler for longer!
• Cans – Naturally I’m a fan. There are now a huge variety of canned drinks besides the carbonated classics.  Water is particularly handy, when you’ve left the bottle behind, many places including Teddy’s Ice Cream in Dun Laoghaire now sell Cano Water, which is a re-sealable endlessly recyclable can of still or sparkling water.  Carbonated flavoured waters are great for breaking up the hydration monotony, I particularly like the Ballygowan apple, elderflower and lemon flavour or Vit Hits raspberry watermelon with Ceylon tea. Remember to bring reusable straws if you have smallies with you who haven’t mastered the art of drinking from a can yet.   There’s also a huge new no/low alcohol beer movement, besides canned wines (great if you don’t want to open a full bottle) and hard seltzers (White Claw Black Cherry is my favourite).  Once you’re done it’s easy to crush and carry them with you until you find a recycling bin.  We offer free recycling packs to organisations, if you spot a venue that could use one of these packs get in touch here.
• Spoon – I bring spoons from home. None of these fancy bamboo cutlery packs with their fancy price tag for me thanks!  Everything can be eaten or prepared with a spoon, I’ve worked through salads, soups, curries, burrito bowls, all with my trustee spoon.  It’s also handy for refusing wooden stirrers while getting hot drinks.  Again, make sure to bring a little bag to pop it into so it doesn’t muck up your bag while dirty.  A word of warning, your housemates/family members may notice the lack of spoons in the drawer if like me you forget to wash and return them.
• Foil wrapping – It keeps all your prepped foods fresh but can double up as a foil plate you can use to eat just about everything from. It’s so versatile, I’ve formed it into a temporary dog water bowl when in a jam.  It’s also uber-easy to clean (just wipe down afterwards) and recycle (scrunch into a ball with all the other clean foils and pop it into the nearest recycling bin).
• Foil foods for your shopping list – Yoghurt and cream cheese lids, foil wrapped tea cakes, cakes, and chocolate, if it’s wrapped in foil (the kind that doesn’t spring back after you scrunch it) you can add it to the foil bundle that is endlessly recyclable. Think of those individual portion cherry bakewells, sweet mallow filled tea cakes and some spreadable cheeses.  Foil, like cans, is endlessly recyclable, so keep this in mind when writing your picnic/bbq shopping list.
• Dedicated recycling bag – bring one bag that’s dedicated to collecting recycling and let everyone know what you expect them to put in there. Before the feeding frenzy begins is usually the best time to outline your recycling rules.  Read through the national recycling list here, at mywaste.ie.
• PYO – pick your own. Raspberries are in season right now, blackberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants are soon to follow. Not only are they a delicious treat, but also a fun family activity. A quick google can usually lead you to where they’re grown wild, or you can visit one of them many PYO farms. Grab a basket or a jar and get picking!
• Clean BBQ-ing – The big decision is what fuel to use.  Propane burns much cleaner than both wood or charcoal, but there are some organic charcoal options available.  For the clean-up, use soy-based cleaning products.  These natural alternatives are equally efficient and don’t leave behind any chemical residues.  Remember to always check local rules when it comes to barbecuing at beauty spots.

Above all the most important rule of enjoying the outdoors is to ‘Love this Place and Leave no Trace’.  Every time we pack up our van after a festival, I look back over the space we’ve just vacated, our campsite, our dining room, our dance floor, and I take great pride that there was no evidence of our fun.  Like  it never happened and we were never there at all, as it should be.

-Róisín 

Programme Manager, Every Can Counts Ireland

Read our very first newsletter to find out about the latest Every Can Counts activities in Ireland and how we’re rising to the challenges of the COVID-19 era.

Read CanMail Ireland via issuu by clicking here.

Update: This competition has now closed!  Thank you to everyone who took part and congratulations to our winner Adrian Chiappe!

Watch our compilation video and take a look at some of the fantastic designs we received:

We want to show our appreciation for our amazing frontline workers, and we need YOUR help. 

Download the ‘Thank You Frontline Workers’ picture, colour it in (either by hand or digitally) and put it on display to show frontline workers how much we appreciate all they do for us. From gardaí to nurses, doctors to waste collectors, bus drivers to shop assistants, we want to say a huge THANK YOU in the most colourful way.

Take a photo of your completed picture on display (attach it to your recycling bin, place it in a window or on a wall etc.) and send us your photo for a chance to WIN a Nintendo Switch Lite!

There are 2 ways to send us your photo:

• Emails can be sent to: everycancounts@aluproireland.ie 

Or

• Post your picture and tag Every Can Counts on one of our social media channels:

Instagram –www.instagram.com/everycancountsireland

Facebook –www.facebook.com/EveryCanCountsIreland

Twitter – www.twitter.com/Every_CanCounts

Download The Template Here

Prize Draw Terms and Conditions:

• This prize draw is open to residents of both Ireland and the UK.
• We welcome entries from people of all ages.
• Multiple entries per person are allowed.
• Submitted entries may be used by Every Can Counts for its own marketing and communications purposes.
• To be included in the prize draw, all coloured-in templates must either be emailed to everycancounts@aluproireland.ie  or publicly posted on one of the following social media channels, tagging Every Can Counts:

• Instagram – www.instagram.com/everycancountsireland
• Facebook – www.facebook.com/EveryCanCountsIreland
• Twitter – www.twitter.com/Every_CanCounts

Thank you everyone who got involved with our #CANdunk challenge, it’s been a lot of fun! 

We had a great time watching all of your entries and we’re now excited to announce the winners in our 3 prize categories:

• Most Viewed Video: @SuperLuckyDi
• Most Creative Video: @rachaelsit
• Funniest Video: @JimJamRadford

Congratulations to all of you!  We hope you enjoy a well-deserved stay-at-home feast with your £100 Just Eat prize vouchers.

Watch our video below to see the winning entries:

For more #CANdunk action, check out this compilation of some of the other amazing videos we received:

Thank you all for getting creative and recycling in style!  Keep making your cans count!

We received over 700 CAN-tastic designs and were blown away by the creativity and talent on display.  Thank you to everyone who took part!

It was a really difficult job for our judges, but after much deliberation, our overall winner and 3 runners up have been announced.

Have a look at our top 10 designs below to see who came out on top!

10. Pop – Kaif, age 9

At age 9, Kaif is one of our youngest finalists.  We were really impressed by this hand-drawn design and loved the emphasis on recycling and looking after the planet!

9. Captain Tom – Elfin, age 15

This is a really impressive tribute to the inspirational Captain Tom Moore, set off by an eye-catching rainbow background.  Great work Elfin!

8. Fairy Soda – Seren, age 16

We loved the call to action here – there’s no recycling fairy so it’s down to you to do the right thing with your empty can!  And plenty of can recycling facts have been included in the design too.  Nice one Seren!

7. Phoenix Elixir – Samuel, age 8

Cans really are like a phoenix from the flames when you recycle them!  Samuel is our youngest finalist and we loved his impressive design and the concept behind it.  Mythically hot ginger sounds like it will really pack a punch too!

6.Purple Paradise – Neve, age 15

This one would definitely stand out on the shop shelf!  Well done Neve for creating this eye-catching design.  We really liked the way you brought the recycle swoosh to life too, great idea!

5. The Infinity Can – Phoenix, age 22

We love talking about the fact that metal recycles forever, and this design really brings that concept to life.  Inside every can is the potential for countless more cans!  We loved the idea Phoenix, and it’s a great piece of artwork too – well done!

4. RUNNER UP: Ocean Breeze – Jamila, age 18

This is a really beautiful design, and we love how the recycle swoosh is incorporated into the underwater scene.  Impressive artwork Jamila!

3. RUNNER UP: Your Choice – Shira, age 14

We could base an Every Can Counts poster around this design, it’s fantastic!  A really clever concept that encourages us to do the right thing with our empty cans.  Nice work Shira!

2. RUNNER UP: The Lockdown Liquid – Aaran, age 14

A really eye-catching design with a topical name and positive ‘We CAN do it’ messaging.  Our judges loved it – great design Aaran!

1. WINNER: Re-Juice – Esme, age 13

Re-Juice, Re-Use, Re-Cycle!  Great wordplay, an attractive design and locally sourced ingredients – this one has it all!  Congratulations Esme, you’re our winner!

We want to see you all have some fun while you’re recycling your empty drink cans, so we’ve launched the #CANdunk challenge!

We’re giving away 100€ takeaway voucher x 3.  To be in with a chance to win post your video of a can being recycled in a creative way.

We’ll be awarding prizes in 3 different categories:

• Most viewed video
• Most creative video
• Funniest video

How to enter:

There are two ways to enter:

Post your video of a can being recycled on one of the following platforms:

Instagram – instagram.com/everycancountsireland

Facebook – facebook.com/EveryCanCountsIreland

Twitter – twitter.com/every_cancounts

TikTok – tiktok.com/@everycancounts

Tag us in your post and include the hashtags #CANdunk and #Recycle to be in with a chance of winning! Remember to make sure your post is public!

OR:

• WeTransfer your video to everycancounts@aluproireland.ie, and include your name, location and preferred contact number or email address.

Videos must be posted/emailed by Friday 15^th May.  Full competition terms and conditions can be found below.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s #CANdunk!

Check out the video below for some inspiration:

Terms and Conditions:

• This competition is open to residents of both the UK and Ireland.
• We welcome entries from people of all ages.
• Multiple entries per person are allowed.
• To be included in the competition, all #CANdunk videos must be publicly posted on one of the following social media channels, tagging Every Can Counts and including the hashtags #CANdunk and #Recycle:

• Instagram – instagram.com/everycancountsireland
• Facebook – facebook.com/EveryCanCountsIreland
• Twitter – twitter.com/every_cancounts
• TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@everycancounts

• Entries must be submitted before midnight on Friday 15^th May 2020 to be included in the competition.
• The winners will be contacted directly within 10 days of the competition’s closing date and will be announced on our social media channels in due course.
• The Every Can Counts team will collectively pick a winner for each of the following categories:

• Most viewed video (based on publicly available statistics and therefore excludes Facebook posts.  The judges must also consider the video to be an appropriate entry, in keeping with the spirit of the competition)
• Funniest video
• Most creative video
• Every Can Counts may wish to use #CANdunk entries for its marketing and communications purposes.  By entering the competition you are giving your approval for Every Can Counts to use your video in this way.

📢Thank you to everyone who took part, we have over 700 brilliant entries to get through and we’ll announce the winner soon📢

We love cans because they’re endlessly recyclable, but that’s not the only reason – they can be beautiful too!

We’re asking you all to get creative and design your own drink cans using our Blank CANvas template.  We want to see eye-catching colourful designs, and if they’re recycling-themed then that’s even better!

The Every Can Counts team will be picking their favourite designs and giving out some great prizes.  The creator of the winning design will receive a Nintendo Switch, and 3 runners up will be given the choice between an Amazon Fire tablet and an Instant Camera!

Taking part is easy:

1 – Download the Can Template here.

2 – Design your can digitally (e.g. using MS Paint) or print the template and colour by hand.  Don’t forget to name your can and give it a flavour!

3 – Email your finished design to everycancounts@alupro.org.uk, along with the following information:

• Your name
• Your age
• Your location
• Your parent/guardian’s name and contact number

Submit your designs by Sunday 10th of May 2020 for a chance to win!  Good luck!

Download now…

We’ll also be sharing submitted designs on our social media channels, so keep an eye on the following:

• www.facebook.com/EveryCanCountsIreland
• www.instagram.com/everycancountsireland
• www.twitter.com/every_cancounts

Terms and Conditions:

• This competition is open to residents of both Ireland and the UK.
• We welcome entries from people of all ages.
• Multiple entries per person are allowed.
• Submitted entries may be used by Every Can Counts for its own marketing and communications purposes.
• Entries need to be submitted before midnight on Sunday 10th of May 2020 in order to be included in the competition.
• The winner and runners up will be contacted within one week of the competition’s closing date.
• The Every Can Counts team will collectively pick a winner and 3 runners up from the totality of entries received.  The team’s decision will be final.
• Every Can Counts will not offer a cash equivalent to the prizes available.
• Submitted contact details will only be used for the purposes of this competition and will be deleted once the competition has closed and prizes have been awarded.