New research from drinks can recycling programme, Every Can Counts, has revealed that businesses are calling out for more support to help implement successful workplace recycling schemes.

According to surveys of employers and employees from more than 80 organisations, the greatest challenge encountered when implementing workplace recycling initiatives is staff understanding; nearly a quarter of businesses revealed their organisation struggled with communicating how and why to recycle to employees to create lasting behaviour change.

The research, which investigated attitudes to recycling in the workplace, also revealed that over half of the businesses running a recycling programme were motivated to do so by environmental concerns. Furthermore, almost 20 percent of employers with a scheme in place cited cost saving over regular waste disposal as a motivation for starting recycling.

With many organisations working towards sustainability objectives, including zero waste to landfill targets, the research demonstrates that businesses would benefit from greater support to help achieve their environmental goals. In response EveryCan Counts has launched a new online information hub designed to help organisations and individuals increase recycling in their workplace. Recognising that an effective recycling programme combines service with promotion, the new online hub, www.everycancounts.co.uk provides information and advice on setting up or reinvigorating a recycling scheme, along with communications resources to help with promotion to staff and customers.

The new site also includes a series of case studies of organisationsincluding Emap and Land Securities discussing how they successfully implemented the recycling programme and providing advice on employee and customer engagement. The latest in the series is from Jaguar Land Rover who has been using the Every Can Counts programme for the last 18 months at three of its UK sites to help achieve their commitment to environmental responsibility. This case study can be viewed at http://www.everycancounts.co.uk/casestudies

As an added initiative to help boost drinks can recycling, new organisations that register with Every Can Counts before the 31 December 2011, will receive a free starter pack, and be entered into a draw for a chance to win an Every Can Counts drinks can crusher worth over £800 The winner will also receive a consultation from an Every Can Counts representative, and promotional materials to kick start or invigorate their recycling scheme.

Rick Hindley, Director of Every Can Counts, commented: “Our experience tells us that putting a recycling box in an office doesn’t constitute a recycling programme, you have to educate people how to use it!  Successful recycling and lasting behaviour change requires regular communication to remind staff how, what and where to recycle. We know that Every Can Counts helps increase drinks can recycling, and also boosts collections of other recyclables in a workplace. With the right resources, workplaces can easily encourage long-term behaviour change among the workforce and achieve their environmental goals. We intend to build on the insight this research provides to continue to offer practical help and support to anyone wanting to step up their recycling, whatever their workplace.”

The Every Can Counts programme is currently running in 485 organisations, across 1,300 sites and there are 4,000 recycling collection points. In 2010, the programme helped recycle over 27 million drinks cans in the workplace, equivalent to every employee at organisations registered with the programme recycling four cans per month.