A GIANT rainbow has appeared in Shawlands Civic Square overnight as the city gears up for the start of COP26.
Created by Every Can Counts, the rainbow is not a result of the rainy weather we’ve been having but, is being displayed in front of Langside Halls in partnership with Glasgow City Council to remind people of the importance of recycling.
The eye-catching installation is made from more than 2500 recycled drinks cans and is four metres high and seven metres wide.
The rainbow, which took four people more than five hours to build, will be on display for the first week of the climate change conference to spread the recycling message.
Chris Latham-Warde, programme manager for Every Can Counts, said: “The rainbow is our way of reminding people about the importance of recycling cans at a time when the environment is firmly on the city’s agenda.
“Recycling an empty drink can is such an easy thing that each of us can do to help the planet.
“It might not seem like much, but every can is endlessly recyclable and making a can from recycled metal rather than raw materials uses 95% less energy and produces 95% less greenhouse gas emissions.
“In 2020, a record four out of five drinks cans sold in the UK were recycled, given peoples’ lifestyles changed dramatically and we spent much of the year in lockdown.
“We want to continue making progress now the country has opened back up and our ultimate goal is to achieve a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.”
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Every Can Counts’ own research suggest that more than 2.8million drink cans are bought and used each week in Glasgow.
If all these cans were recycled, the greenhouse gas savings would be equal to taking more than 7200 cars off the city’s roads for a week.
If you’re thinking the rainbow sounds like a perfect place for a selfie, you’ll be glad to hear Every Can Counts is running a social media photo competition offering the chance to win a £100 shopping voucher and a £500 donation to an environmental charity of your choice.
To enter, take a picture of the rainbow and upload it to social media using #COP26Glasgow, and tagging @EveryCanCountsUK on Facebook or Instagram, or @EveryCanCounts on Twitter.
The brightly coloured structure will be on display until November 4.
Every Can Counts is a partnership between drink can manufacturers, drink can fillers and the wider recycling industry, with the goal of reaching a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.
To find out more visit www.everycancounts.co.uk
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