Press Releases
Minister For Recycling Lends Support to 'Every Can Counts'
24/02/2009
The drinks can industry's new recycling programme, Every Can Counts, has received support from the Minister for Waste and Recycling. Jane Kennedy MP visited a business in central London to find out how it is using the programme to encourage employees to recycle the drinks cans they consume whilst at work. During her visit the Minister congratulated the industry for recognising the importance of encouraging recycling beyond the home.
Launched in October 2008, Every Can Counts aims to improve levels of recovery of aluminium and steel drinks cans which are used outside the home - estimated to be over 40,000 tonnes of metal. It is jointly funded by the organisations representing the major drinks can manufacturers - Beverage Can Makers Europe (BCME) and UK Canmakers - together with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and the aluminium and steel packaging producers and reprocessors.
The Every Can Counts programme links businesses with recycling service providers, and supports their recycling efforts by providing a range of branded communications resources to help them launch and promote drinks can recycling to their employees.
The Minister visited i-level, a leading digital marketing agency, at its central London offices to see Every Can Counts in action. Although i-level has always recycled paper, its 140 staff were keen to recycle more of their rubbish. Working with London-based recycling company Paper Round, i-level recently introduced drinks can recycling using the resources available from Every Can Counts, including branded collection boxes. Campaign materials including posters and screensavers are being used to encourage staff to take part.
Commenting on i-level's recycling programme the Minister said: "We are already doing really well at recycling at home, so it makes sense to extend that to our working environment. Every Can Counts will help companies large and small to make a practical contribution towards increasing recycling in the workplace."
Faith Carthy, i-level Group Managing Director said: "We were delighted to be one of the first businesses to join Every Can Counts and to be able to show the Minister how enthusiastically our staff have embraced the initiative.
"As a company we try to do everything we can to promote environmentally responsible behaviour by our staff, suppliers and clients. The Every Can Counts posters and bins really stand-out, so people started using them as soon as they were installed.. Recycling is now as much second nature in the office, for us all, as it is at home."
Representatives from the BCME and UK canmakers with Jane Kennedy MP
