Every Can Counts, KA drinks and recycling company SUEZ joined forces at this years’ Notting Hill Carnival to encourage an estimated one million revellers to recycle empty drinks cans at the world famous event.

Installed on Portobello Green at the heart of the festivities the ‘KANIVAL KRUSH’ zone featured the unique ‘Kenny the KA Van’ and Every Can Counts branded activity, staffed by 15 reps from all three organisations over the course of the two day festival. This was all in a bid to encourage Carnival-goers to bring empty drinks cans for recycling, in exchange for a free can of ‘Karnival Krush’ KA drink.

The highly visible recycling exchange gave out a free can of KA ‘KAnival Krush’ in return for a bag of empty cans for recycling. The empty cans were placed into segregated bins ready for the SUEZ team to recycle after the event.

The recycling installation, which is a first of its kind for Notting Hill Carnival, was pioneered by the Every Can Counts recycling programme, which aims to ensure more of the drinks cans used outside the home are recycled.

Jonathan Easthope, Every Can Counts Brand Manager commented: “This was a new event in the Every Can Counts calendar and the first time we’ve run a can exchange, and we are thrilled by the positive response that the KAnival Krush received. Notting Hill Carnival is an amazing event and the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of drinks can recycling.  The partnership with Suez Waste Management and KA drinks sets a new standard for promoting drinks can recycling at a large event.”

Adrian Troy, Head of Marketing at AG Barr commented: “KA has always benefitted from a close association with Notting Hill Carnival thanks to the brand’s Caribbean heritage. Therefore it was great to be able to do our bit to support recycling at the carnival. Our Karnival Krush drink was the perfect product to bring the Every Can Counts recycling initiative to life and we are proud to have been a part of it.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Recycling & Recovery UK division of  SUEZ, David Palmer-Jones, said:  “The Notting Hill Carnival is one of Europe’s biggest street parties, but like any good party, when it’s finished, there’s a lot of tidying up to do. Our crews swept up over 200 tonnes of rubbish over the weekend and recycling as much of it as possible is our top priority. The partnership with Every Can Counts and KA, is an inventive way to get people recycling and hopefully we will begin to see more initiatives like this.”

Every Can Counts is funded by the UK’s drinks can manufacturers, recyclers and fillers. 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, including free communication materials and help with finding recycling collection partners.