Press Releases
Every Can Counts scheme pilots in ASDA trial stores
01/07/2009
Every Can Counts and ASDA have launched a drinks can recycling programme, to run across 49 of their stores in the North West of England. The initiative, which arrives during the nation's Fifth Recycle Week, will be introduced first in Lancashire and then rolled out to all of ASDA's 360 stores nationwide after an initial trial period.
The scheme, a partnership between drinks can manufacturers, the recycling industry and leading waste management companies, is being implemented back of store as part of ASDA's initiative to send zero waste to landfill by the end of 2010. It also makes up part of a bigger environmental programme at the supermarket which focuses on raising awareness and increasing colleague recycling - with an ultimate aim to divert all recyclable waste streams away from landfill.
The scheme was originally introduced to ASDA via colleague feedback which raised the question ‘why can I recycle at home and not at work?' The initiative is currently being briefed to colleagues via Everyone Matters TV, table talkers and huddles which are ASDA's internal communication networks.
Jonathan Wylie, Waste and Recycling Manager at ASDA, commented, "We are happy to be supporting the Every Can Counts scheme at ASDA. We believe it is important that we make it as easy as possible for our colleagues to recycle. We look forward to seeing a successful trial in Lancashire and then rolling out the programme to our other stores across the country."
Every Can Counts is a workplace and university recycling programme for drinks cans, funded by the beverage can industry and WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). The programme is supported with marketing communications materials to help increase collection rates.
Recycling at home is now well established, research shows that consumers now want to recycle "away from home" and "on the go". With this in mind, Every Can Counts has been established to recover the 30% of drinks cans consumed outside the home where there is no access to kerbside collection. The ambitious programme has been created to ensure that these cans are recycled rather than being sent to landfill.
As well as making good environmental sense, recycling is a cost-effective way of dealing with empty cans due to the inherent value of metal scrap. Old cans can be made into new cans again and again or made into other new metal products.
