Every Can Counts UK

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Reflecting on a Sustainable Summer
Reflecting on a Sustainable Summer 2560 1920 PedroUK

The growing demand for festivals to go plastics-free this summer led to a significant rise in the interest in the drink can recycling programme, Every Can Counts. Festivals are big business, and the UK has gained a reputation for hosting a diverse calendar of events large and small.  However, organisers are under significant pressure to ensure their events are as sustainable as possible.

Every Can Counts is the leading programme to promote drink can recycling; originally conceived in 2009, our aim remains simple and straightforward – to inspire everyone to make a difference by recycling their drink cans when they are away from home.

The programme has enjoyed its busiest and most productive Summer, a fitting way to celebrate its 10th anniversary.  Present at over 30 festivals and sports events, the team has directly engaged with close to 10,000 people about the infinite recyclability of the humble drink can.  Using a range of creative experiences enables the team to drive up recycling rates at an event, but importantly to drive positive behaviour change long after the glitter and mud are washed away.

A collective audience of over 1 million people had the opportunity to interact with the Every Can Counts recycling ambassadors and their unique can recycling back packs, to view the Every Can Counts video on big screens, and new in 2019, the innovative and engaging can cages and voting bins. At five festivals, people were encouraged to bring drink cans to the Every Can Counts pitch in return for money-can’t-buy tee-shirts – this alone generated nearly 50,000 more cans collected for recycling by the onsite waste contractor.

Andy Ellis, Director of Lost Village Festival said “Every Can Counts helped us bring a sharp focus on recycling and educate our customers more than ever. It’s clear that the solution to waste is anthropic; leading by example, engaging and, quite simply, talking to people and spreading the word. Every Can Count’s strong presence in our campsite, combined with their personable and passionate team, harnessed undeniably positive results at Lost Village 2019.

The Every Can Counts programme is unique in that it brings together a broad spectrum of partners; organisers of iconic festivals, sports events, well-known drink brands, independent event organisers, packaging manufacturers, community groups, industry bodies and waste and recycling contractors.

Chris Latham-Warde, Every Can Counts programme manager said “This Summer’s programme is our biggest year so far!   We’re excited to work with long-term partners such as Festival Republic, and to have developed new partnerships with acclaimed independent festivals 2000trees in Cheltenham and Lost Village in Lincolnshire.  We are also supporting Tough Mudder at ten of their nationwide obstacle race events, as well as working with grassroots community events.

“We are passionate about what we do and are determined to change the game. The UK aluminium drink can recycling rate stands at 75% and we will do everything in our power to improve this figure year on year.”

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Freshney Place Shopping Centre extends partnership with Every Can Counts
Freshney Place Shopping Centre extends partnership with Every Can Counts 2560 1703 PedroUK

Freshney Place shopping centre is delighted to be extending its partnership with Every Can Counts (ECC) following the popularity of the bins which were installed in 2018 as part of Freshney Place’s Green Grimsby campaign. Green Grimsby, of which ECC was an official partner, aimed to highlight the town’s reputation as the renewable energy capital of the UK and drive greater awareness of environmental concerns, including sustainability and a greener approach to a multi tenanted and community used building.

Currently there is a can crushing station and ECC bins located in the shopping centre, along with two new recycling stations, complementing the centre’s objective to improve recycling facilities for customers. There are also ECC bins in the majority of shops within the centre. It is estimated by shopping centre management that more than 500 cans are being crushed and recycled every month.

Neil Grice, Operations Manager said: “The can-crushing stations have been very popular with customers and have really helped us to achieve our environmental targets. Last year Freshney Place was awarded two major environmental accreditations including a Green Apple Environment Award and a Green Award from Investors in the Environment – their highest level of accreditation.

“Resource usage and environmental practices continue to be important operational objectives and this includes the use of ECC’s bins which encourage customers to recycle drinks cans efficiently.”

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Beach Guardian wins Green Can Award for Recycling
Beach Guardian wins Green Can Award for Recycling 2560 1707 PedroUK

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.

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Foil for Snappy wins Every Can Counts Green Can Award
Foil for Snappy wins Every Can Counts Green Can Award 2560 1709 PedroUK

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

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.

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 the initiative.  The project collects drink cans, foil and household cables for recycling.  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.

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.”

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Eco-Workshop celebrate winning a Green Can Award
Eco-Workshop celebrate winning a Green Can Award 2560 1652 PedroUK

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.

The Every Can Counts – Green Can Award has been awarded to Eco-Workshop who 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.

The material recycled over the last three years has amounted to 370kg of aluminium (26,270 cans crushed so far) and 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.

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!”

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.

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