Heroic Torfaen Council mascot Dan Can the Super Recycler received an enormous parcel of crushed cans to mark his first birthday.
Since his launch Dan Can has proved a massive success by helping Torfaen become the best recycling authority in South Wales- recycling 42 per cent of its waste.
The mascot and his slogan, recycle- if Dan Can you can, now feature on the Council website, leaflets and on the back of recycling lorries.
Last year he also won a Chartered Institute of Marketing award for the way he gets residents recycling.
To celebrate Dan Can's success and first birthday Councillor John Cunningham, Executive Member for Operational Services, presented him with the crushed cans today (Tuesday).
"Award winning Dan Can has been hugely popular with people of all ages," said Councillor Cunningham. "He has added a fun factor to recycling, which, along with residents' enthusiasm, has made a massive contribution to our success."
Dan added: "It has been a super first year and I hope people will continue to support recycling in their area."
To boost recycling rates further, the final phase of Torfaen's twin bin scheme is due to start next Monday, February 23.
Torfaen Council says it will add around 7,000 more residents to the scheme where recycling is collected every week and garden and food waste and non-recyclable rubbish are collected on alternate weeks.
The latest roll-out will cover Blaenavon, Abersychan, Pontnewynydd and Snatchwood.
For more information visit the Torfaen rubbish, waste and recycling| page.