Adopt a can-do attitude and get recycling

Wherever you are this summer, party the environmentally friendly way by recycling all of your aluminium cans.

Alcoa, Planet Ark and eight-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley have joined forces in a campaign aimed at increasing the number of recycled cans.

Planet Ark’s Brad Gray said there was no excuse considering the number of recycling bins on site at music festivals, open-air cinemas and markets this summer.

“Thanks to the support of Alcoa, recycling in Anglesea has been made easier through their provision of public place bins,” he said.

“This puts Anglesea ahead of many other locations including some of Australia’s biggest cities.”

Making one aluminium can from recycled material uses just five per cent of the energy needed to make one from virgin material. Aluminium doesn’t degrade during the recycling process, so cans are endlessly recyclable thus saving precious resources for years to come.

Alcoa Australia MD Alan Cransberg said the company was thrilled to be supporting Planet Ark and its seasonal Recycling Near You campaign.

“There are numerous opportunities for us to reduce the impact we have on this planet and to help preserve it for future generations,” he said.

“We are committed to recycling aluminium because it helps reduce waste, conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Since Australians first started drinking out of aluminium in the 1970s, more than 75 billion cans have been recycled, however Mr Gray thinks we can do much better.

“Every year, over $22 million dollars’ worth of aluminium is lost because cans are thrown into landfill, so any chance to reclaim them is important,” he said.