Bishop Auckland Town Council has launched a new mobile can‑crushing station that will be used at community events and activities across the town, with all proceeds from recycled cans being donated to Woodhouse Close Church and Community Centre Foodbank.
The initiative has been inspired by local resident David Johnson, whose dedication to recycling and supporting his community has quietly made a significant impact over a number of years.
David, aged 84, is a member of the Bishop Auckland Green Matters litter‑picking group, which meets every Wednesday morning at Bishop Auckland Baptist Church. David first started his recycling efforts during the Covid period, when volunteers were encouraged to collect aluminium drinks cans while litter picking.
Since then, the initiative has grown substantially. Local businesses now save cans specifically for David, and most Wednesdays he can be seen on his bike calling at garages on Peel Street, Chester Street and Railway Street, having built up such a strong rapport with staff that he is affectionately known as the “Tin Man” or “Can Man”. Members of the local community also regularly leave their cans at the Baptist Church for David to collect. Town events including Bishop Pride and Family Festival have also collected cans to be recycled by David.
Each week, the Green Matters litter‑picking group can collect around ten bin bags of aluminium cans, all of which need to be crushed down before being taken for recycling. The funds raised continue to be a welcome and valuable contribution to the organisations and foodbank.
David crushes the cans, take them to a metal merchant, and donate the money raised to the community organisations including, the Baptist Church, Woodhouse Close Church and Woodhouse Close Church Community Centre, where it is used to support the foodbank. Last year he raised over £740.
Inspired by David’s commitment and recognising the physical effort involved in crushing cans by hand, the Town Council via their ‘Greener Together’ initiative has now made a mobile can‑crushing station, making it easier to collect, process and recycle cans at events while also raising funds for a vital local services.
Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Environment and Allotment Committee and Greener Together groups, Councillor Michael Siddle said: “David is a fantastic example of how one person can make a real difference to their community. His energy, kindness and commitment have inspired both volunteers and residents alike. This mobile can‑crushing station allows us to build on his work, support organisations and the foodbank, and promote recycling at events across the town and it’s fitting that David be first to use it.”
David Johnson officially crushed the first can on the new station at the Bishop Auckland Food Festival at 10am on Saturday 18th April, marking the start of the Council’s expanded recycling and fundraising effort.
Mayor of Bishop Auckland and local Business Owner Sam Zair said: “It’s people like David who make Bishop Auckland such a special place. We collect cans at our café for him, and he does all the hard work — helping to keep the town tidy while giving so much back to the community. The funds he has raised have made a real difference locally, and we are incredibly grateful for David and everything he does.”
The Town Council hopes the mobile crusher will encourage residents and visitors to recycle more at events, knowing that every crushed can directly supports people in need within the local community.
