Giant infinity artwork appears in Piccadilly Circus to inspire recycling

A giant art installation has been revealed at an iconic London location, Piccadilly Circus, to highlight the importance of recycling.

The infinity symbol, made from more than 1,200 recycled drink cans, has been created by not-for-profit Every Can Counts to illustrate the life cycle of a drink can and show that aluminium can be recycled again and again.

The can-made artwork will be on display by the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain at Piccadilly Circus until Friday 18th October to mark Recycle Week (14th – 20th October). This is the first time the installation has been unveiled, with plans for it to visit more locations around the country next year.

A ‘canny mascot’, adorned head to toe in more than 300 recycled drink cans, also captured the attention of passers by on the day the installation was unveiled (Monday 14th October), while recycling ambassadors collected empty cans in their recycling backpacks.   

Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts, said: “This infinity sculpture is a brand-new artwork for us, and where better to reveal it than one of London’s most recognisable locations during Recycle Week.

“As well as being visually impressive, the installation spreads the important message that aluminium can be recycled time and time again – from empty cans being crushed and melted down to solid aluminium, through to life as a brand new drink can ready to be filled, enjoyed, and recycled all over again.

“Every empty drink can could be recycled and back on a shop shelf in as little as 60 days. The people of London can play their part in this process by having a ‘can do’ attitude towards recycling – ensuring all their empty cans end up in the right bin means this valuable material will remain in circulation.” 

Every Can Counts’ rainbow installation artwork, also made from recycled cans, has previously visited towns and cities across the UK to inspire drink can recycling.

The organisation 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. Currently, the UK recycles 81% of its drink cans, with a record 10.7 billion cans being collected for recycling in the UK last year.

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