Every Can Counts marks World Ocean Day in Ireland
Image: Every Can Counts
A giant sea turtle installation made of recycled aluminium cans appeared on Ireland’s Dún Laoghaire East Pier on Saturday 8 June, to mark World Ocean Day.
Made from 2,000 cans, the PixelCan artwork was created by leading recycling not-for-profit, Every Can Counts, in partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, to shine a light on species which are currently endangered or vulnerable due to ecosystem degradation.
Alongside the art piece, Every Can Counts dedicated ambassadors were also at the pier, embodying the programme’s mission to promote the recycling of drink cans consumed outside the home and inviting the public to recycle their empty cans on the go.
Every Can Counts’ team of ambassadors worked to raise awareness about the importance of recycling drink cans and collecting cans in their recycling backpacks. The deposit value of the cans collected will be donated to the Irish Wildlife Trust.
The sea turtle installation forms part of Every Can Counts’ fourth edition of its annual International Recycling Tour, launched on World Environment Day (Wednesday 5 June). The tour aims to highlight the importance of drink can recycling in saving valuable resources and mitigating climate change.
This year, the tour has made a bold visual statement with its PixelCan artworks of endangered animals including a polar bear, tiger, and chimpanzee, alongside the sea turtle in Dublin.
Encouraging individuals across the globe to become #GenerationRestoration, the initiative is taking place simultaneously in 16 cities including Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
David Van Heuverswyn, director of Every Can Counts Global, said: “Our vision is to achieve 100% global drink can recycling! Every can recycled can be back on the shelf in 60 days, and campaigns like the International Recycling Tour bring us one step closer to this vision, demonstrating the power of collective action in creating a truly circular economy for the benefit of both people and nature.
“Here in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, we’re proud to celebrate our tour for the second year in a row, this time with a unique sea turtle PixelCan installation to tie into World Ocean Day.”
An Cathaoirleach, councillor Denis O’Callaghan, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome Every Can Counts back to Dún Laoghaire again this year with another beautiful marine sculpture that creates awareness of recycling and the circular economy.
“It is particularly fitting it is here on World Ocean Day, when we can all take collective action for the ocean by managing our waste properly, keeping outdoor spaces clean and recycling or returning our empty drink cans.”
Every Can Counts is a unique partnership formed between drink can manufacturers, drink can fillers and the wider recycling industry, all with the goal of reaching a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.
The programme provides free recycling support to businesses and organisations throughout Ireland and around the globe, reaching 183.5 million people worldwide in 2023 alone and helping recycle over 55 million drink cans through event activations and partnerships.
To find out more information about Every Can Counts, visit: www.everycancounts.eu.
