The intu Trafford Centre is aiming to recycle more than 1 million drinks cans, following the unveiling of 243 can collectors at various sites throughout    the shopping centre.

The scheme, which has been implemented by the free to use Every Can Counts recycling programme, will aim to encourage the shopping centre’s 31 million annual visitors to recycle their drinks cans.

The move follows research from Every Can Counts, which found that 49 per cent of shoppers had never used their local shopping centre’s recycling facilities, with the availability and visibility of recycling points being cited as the main obstacle.

To help launch the scheme, intu Trafford Centre and Every Can Counts set up a free to use CANdid Camera photo booth on Friday 26th June to record Mancunian shoppers’ canny recycling habits.

Richard Paxton, general manager of intu Trafford Centre, said: “We have a strong track record of encouraging recycling and with this latest initiative we’re hoping to encourage even more of our shoppers to recycle rather than bin their drinks cans.

“By increasing the number of can collectors available to shoppers and making them more visible with the Every Can Counts branding, we expect to recycle 1 million more cans by the end of the year.”

Ruth Meeke, Programme Manager from Every Can Counts, said: “Our research has shown that shopping centres are one of the top locations people consume canned drinks. When you consider that recycling just one can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours and that intu Trafford Centre has 31 million visitors annually the potential savings are immense.

“We’re extremely pleased to be working with intu Trafford Centre to help ensure even more cans are recycled rather than going to landfill.”

All of the drinks cans collected will be processed and recycled by Manchester-based JWS Waste.

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.

To register for support from Every Can Counts sign up to the programme at www.everycancounts.co.uk or call 01527 597 757.