Drinks can recycling programme, Every Can Counts, has today revealed that over 5,000 new recycling points have been set up across 1,000 Scottish workplaces, making it easier for employees, shoppers and students to recycle ‘on the go’.

The figure was revealed as the free to use service marked reaching its 1,000^th site, over six months ahead of target, with key funding partner A.G. Barr and Zero Waste Scotland, at Barr’s Cumbernauld head office.

Every Can Counts aims to drive up recycling rates and help Scottish businesses meet the Waste (Scotland) Regulations, which came into effect in 2014, requiring all Scottish businesses to separate recyclable materials.

Collection points have also been set up at locations where people drink cans ‘on the go’ including transport hubs, tourist sites and shopping centres.These include 32 can crushers installed in schools, colleges and universities.

Every Can Counts, which currently works with 13 independent recycling collection providers across Scotland, provides advice and support to businesses on encouraging recycling in the workplace.

Commenting on the initiative’s ongoing success, Jamie Cameron, Scottish Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “Reaching the 1,000^th site mark over six months ahead of our target is a great accolade for everyone involved in the Every Can Counts programme here in Scotland. This year alone, we’ve had some fantastic sign-ups and now the challenge is to grow the programme and involve even more Scottish businesses so that it’s easy to recycle drinks cans wherever you are.”

Deborah Jones, Head of Corporate Affairs at A.G. Barr, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for Every Can Counts.  The scheme is a great example of how we can work collaboratively to encourage everyone to dispose of products and packaging responsibly and to recycle more.”

Jon Molyneux, Head of Communications and Engagement at Zero Waste Scotland said: “Increasing our drinks can recycling rate holds both economic and environmental benefits, so it’s great to see that Every Can Counts is now supplying over 1,000 sites with the facilities to do so.  Every Can Counts provides businesses and organisations with an easy, convenient way to collect their drinks cans, helping them to capture the value of the materials and to comply with the Waste (Scotland) Regulations.  We’re already recycling more of our household waste, and I would encourage Scots to start recycling more in the workplace as well.”

Every Can Counts is funded by the UK’s drinks can manufacturers, recyclers and fillers.  In Scotland the programme receives additional funding from Zero Waste Scotland and soft drinks manufacturer A.G. Barr plc.

The programme aims to increase the number of drinks cans recycled, whether at work or while out and about, by providing practical advice and support.

To find out more or sign up to Every Can Counts visit www.everycancounts.co.uk/scotland or call 01527 597 757. A short film explaining how Every Can Counts works can be found here.