Press Releases
Every Can counts scheme turns Bournemouth's beaches green
14/09/2009
Bournemouth Council has launched the drinks can recycling programme as part of a bigger environmental push, which aims to help recycle at least 20% of the 168 tonnes of litter that is removed from Bournemouth Beach each year - the equivalent of two jumbo jets.
The scheme, a partnership between the drinks can manufacturers,the recycling industry and leading waste management companies will see can crushing units placed alongside existing bins on Bournemouth Pier Approach, a pedestrianised area from where 65% of the total beach waste is removed. Bournemouth Council began public recycling on the beach four years ago because of the growing litter problem left by 4.5 million visitors to the area each year. Since then it has received environmental accolades including a Quality Coast award, four Blue Flags and a silver Green Tourism Business award.
Councillor Robert Lawton, Portfolio Holder for Environment & Transport, Bournemouth Council commented, "We are happy to be supporting the Every Can Counts scheme as recycling cans is environmentally sound and will help reduce litter on the beach. We want to make it easy as possible for the public to recycle and look forward to seeing how a programme like this can really help contribute towards making the beach a more enjoyable place to be for both visitors and locals."
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.
Rick Hindley, a spokesperson for Every Can Counts, commented, "The beach is a beautiful spot that appeals to both visitors and locals alike. It's great to see Bournemouth Council taking such an active interest in the recycling of drinks cans and we look forward to working with them to help eliminate the problem of littering of drinks cans on the beach."
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.
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