Recycle Week 2021 takes place from 20th – 26th September in the UK, and Every Can Counts UK is celebrating by partnering with City of London Corporation to bring the iconic #EveryCanCounts Rainbow installation to the heart of the capital. The eye-catching rainbow archway, created from over 2,500 recycled cans, will be on display in Carter Lane Gardens outside St Paul’s Cathedral from Thursday 16th September 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 UK’s 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.
Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts UK, 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.”
From Thursday 23rd, the installation will be taken directly to Birmingham, the country’s second largest city, where it will be on display for the remainder of Recycle Week. The installation’s time in Birmingham city centre will coincide with the Birmingham Pride event – giving the rainbow extra relevance and an opportunity to remind the large crowds celebrating Pride to do the right thing and recycle their empty cans.