Journey of a drinks can

Did you know that East Devon collects an impressive 250 tonnes of drinks cans each year? This weight is roughly equivalent to that of about 62 elephants!

In honour of Recycling Week (14th–20th October), East Devon District Council (EDDC) is excited to share the journey of your drinks can—from your home to the shop shelves.

Every recycled aluminium can, can be back on the shelves in a shop in just 60 days! Plus, drink cans can be recycled infinitely!

East Devon is currently ranked 6th in the country for recycling, with an impressive 60.5 per cent of household waste recycled. But we need your help to reach the top spot! By participating in Recycling Week 2024, you can make a big difference.

Here’s how: Just recycle 5 extra items each week. It could be Dee Dee the deodorant can, Rey the plastic spray bottle, Yogi the yogurt pot, Fitz the perfume bottle, or Hube, the humble toilet roll tube. Every small action counts and can help East Devon surpass the magic 65 per cent recycling mark!

Here’s what each item can be turned into and its impact:

  • Dee Dee the Deodorant Can: Recycle 12 extra deodorant cans a year (1 a month), and you’ll help create enough material to make a children’s bike frame!
  • Rey the Plastic Spray Bottle: By recycling 26 extra spray bottles a year (2 a month), you can contribute enough recycled material to produce a new plastic recycling bin for your community.
  • Yogi the Yogurt Pot: If you recycle 1 extra yogurt pot a week, that totals 52 pots a year, which can be transformed into enough material for up to 10 new plant pots or drainage pipes.
  • Fitz the Perfume Bottle: By recycling 24 extra perfume bottles a year (just 2 a month), you'll contribute enough material to produce over 5,000 new glass containers! That’s enough to package a whole range of products, from cosmetics to food items—helping reduce waste and support the circular economy!
  • Hube, the Humble Toilet Roll Tube: By recycling four extra toilet roll tubes each week, you’ll contribute 208 tubes over the year—enough to produce 8 rolls of paper towels or create over 1,000 greeting cards for local schools!

To make recycling even easier, remember to:

Beyond recycling, EDDC is encouraging residents to reduce the waste that they produce through more sustainable lifestyles. There are lots of ways to make more environmentally friendly choices, such as buying products which are reusable or have less packaging. Visit EDDC’s managing waste at home webpage for more advice.

Cllr Geoff Jung, EDDC's portfolio holder for coast, country, and environment, said: "I am thrilled to see East Devon’s residents actively participating in recycling efforts. Collecting 250 tonnes of drinks cans annually is no small feat, and it highlights our community’s commitment to sustainability. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We recycle so much more than this.

"Our recycling and waste team go above and beyond every week to collect the huge volumes of recycling that wouldn't be possible with the residents. 

"As one of the highest achieving teams at EDDC, we would like to thank them for their efforts in keeping the authority as one of the best recyclers (currently 6th) in the country. As we mark Recycling Week, let’s all push a little bit more to support our recycling heroes and improve our efforts. Every can recycled contributes to a greener future for East Devon. Together, we can achieve great things!"