CanSaveCarbon challenge has saved 1/2 tonne of CO2

And raised £1,408!

1st May and my CanSaveCarbon challenge is completed. Not only did I extend my original target from 2,000 to 3,000 discarded drinks cans, but then again to 3,620, reaching that target yesterday – sad evidence of the litter problem in Gwynedd. Recycling all these cans has saved over half a tonne of CO2.

CanSaveCarbon blog

Progress

Progress: target £2,000

3620

Cans picked up and recycled

549

kg of CO2 saved

1408

£ raised

Thank you to everyone…

Thank you to everyone who has donated or sponsored me. All the sponsorship pledges are in and donations now total £1,408. All proceeds to the Snowdonia Society’s work.

Not too late to donate

How to donate

on JustGiving.com/CanSaveCarbon
on the donation page of our website
by bank transfer to: HSBC Llanrwst, Snowdonia Society/Cymdeithas Eryri: 80755230 40-30-18 (please give your surname and ‘cans’ as a reference)
by cheque payable to ‘Snowdonia Society’ sent to our Caban address
in cash at the Snowdonia Society office.

61kg of scrap aluminium for recycling

3,620 cans generated £18 as scrap

The 3,620 aluminium cans have been sold to a scrap metal merchant for recycling. The final weight was 61kg, 6kg more than anticipated which at 30p/kg, generated £18.30 towards the cause.

Secret litter-pickers

During my challenge I was very heartened to meet so many other people who also pick up litter, some openly, like Geoffrey from Bontnewydd, and many others preferring not to promote what they are doing. In addition several people have told me they have started picking up discarded drinks cans, in particular!

Litter picker Geoffrey

Do we need deposits on drinks containers?

A report by Keep Wales Tidy suggests recycling rates could reach 99% if such a measure was introduced alongside doorstep recycling. Deposit return schemes are currently being discussed by the Welsh Government. (Read my blog post)

What next?

If you know anyone who might be inspired by this effort, please share this page.
Or why not do the the same in your own area, or adopt a patch to keep litter free?
Press Gwynedd Council to separate and recycle the litter their street cleaners pick up instead of land-filling it
Join one of the Snowdonia Society’s litter-picking days.
If you are concerned about marine plastic litter, take the Marine Conservation Society’s June Plastic Challenge.
Finally, how do we help change the litter dropping habit?

Picking it up with pride,
Frances
CanSaveCarbon blog
info@snowdonia-society.org.uk

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