Press Releases
New away from home recycling programme aims to make Every Can Count
06/10/2008
A new recycling programme which aims to encourage the recycling of used drink cans consumed outside the home launches this week (week commencing 6th October, 2008). Every Can Counts sees the beverage can manufacturers and recyclers working with major waste management companies to provide a recycling solution for workplaces. The programme has been developed by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) and is supported by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap).
Every Can Counts will offer employers the opportunity to set up and promote drinks can recycling within their organisation.As well as providing access to a collection service, the programme includes innovative communications resources, designed to enable companies to encourage their employees to get into the recycling habit.The programme is designed to complement existing recycling facilities or as a stand-alone scheme.
Every Can Counts is supported by Biffa, Severnside Recycling and vending cup recyclers Save-a-Cup who will between them introduce the programme to existing customers and will offer the service to businesses who sign up as part of a recruitment campaign managed by Alupro.The communications programme provides businesses with branded recycling resources and promotional materials, all of which are available to order or download via a dedicated website, www.everycancounts.co.uk. An additional element of the programme focuses on universities, and includes a communications programme specifically aimed at students in higher education.
Focussing on the collection of both aluminium and steel drink cans, Every Can Counts is funded by the Beverage Can Makers Europe (BCME) and UK Canmakers, the aluminium packaging and recycling industry through Alupro and Novelis Recycling and Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Every Can Counts demonstrates the commitment of the metal packaging sector to maximise the collection of beverage cans for recycling to ensure that current and future targets are met and exceeded.
Around 30% of the 8 billion cans sold every year (30,000 tonnes of aluminium, 12,000 tonnes of steel) are consumed outside the home, so do not get recycled through local authority kerbside collections. The new programme will initially test the drivers and barriers to running successful recycling schemes for drink cans, both in workplaces and on University campuses. It will measure factors such as the economic viability of various kinds of collection programme and the test the impact of the branded communications programme on new and established recycling schemes. Ultimately it is hoped that it will establish a 'best practice' model for away from home recycling which will then be rolled out nationwide.
Executive Director of Alupro, Rick Hindley hopes that within three years a full national roll-out will be underway and believes the time is right for a workplace recycling programme such as Every Can Counts: "Government policy and social attitudes are both working to create a need for businesses to become more sustainable. Recycling helps them to manage waste effectively and meet pre-treatment legislation; added to this their employees and their customers want to know that they are committed to acting sustainably. We believe that Every Can Counts can help to address all of these issues and contribute to creating lasting behaviour change, by providing a collection infrastructure reinforced by an informative and exciting communications programme."
The Every Can Counts programme will launch next week at the Total Workplace Management exhibition, which takes place at Olympia from 8th-9th October.
Issued by: Alupro
1, Brockhill Court, Brockhill Lane, Redditch, B97 6RB
Tel: 01527 597757
info@alupro.org.uk
Additional information:
Images of the Every Can Counts programme and brand in action are available from Alupro.
