In celebration of Earth Day (Saturday 22nd April), an eye-catching installation has been revealed at Covent Garden to raise awareness around the importance of recycling.

Made up of over 700 drink cans – ‘The #EveryCanCounts CANvas’ – has been launched by not-for-profit recycling programme, Every Can Counts, in partnership with Covent Garden.

The ‘CANvas’ has been brought to life by renowned street artist, Jimmy C, with a bespoke Earth Day design to raise awareness of the infinite recyclability of aluminum and encourage people to recycle their drink cans wherever they are.

The installation is located on Covent Garden’s North Piazza and will remain on display until Tuesday 25th April, when Jimmy C will be returning to paint a new ‘CANvas’ ahead of the Coronation weekend.

As part of the project, Every Can Counts will also be running a hashtag prize draw where passers-by are invited to post a photo of the installation on social media with the #EveryCanCounts hashtag and tag Every Can Counts on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for the chance to win a £100 One4All Gift Card.

Chris Latham-Warde, programme manager for Every Can Counts, said: “We’re so excited to partner with Covent Garden again and celebrate Earth Day with the reveal of our brand-new ‘CANvas’ installation.

“Earth Day is all about encouraging worldwide action to help benefit the environment and to preserve the planet, and recycling empty drink cans is something we can all easily do.

“Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, and every empty can could be recycled and back on a shop shelf as a brand-new can in just 60 days. Every can recycled also reduces the carbon footprint of the next can made, so small actions like recycling really do add up to help make a big difference.” 

Every Can Counts is a unique partnership formed between drink can manufacturers and the wider recycling industry, all with the goal of reaching a 100% recycling rate for drinks cans.

The programme communicates the importance of recycling drink cans and works to make it easier for consumers to recycle their empty cans while they’re out-of-home. Its team of ambassadors spread the recycling message and collect cans at many public events throughout the year, and the programme also runs a Green Can Award scheme which recognises the recycling efforts of local businesses, community groups and charities.