Inspired by the success of the ‘one million cans’ contest, a new non-profit organization has been launched in the United States: The Recycling Society. Its goal is to promote can recycling among elementary school students and teach them, in a fun way, the positive impact of this practice on the environment and their own schools.
The official launch took place on April 22nd. The initiative aims to allocate funds raised from can collection directly to improving school infrastructure, such as playgrounds or sports equipment.
The organization, which has already collected 2.8 million cans, was born with the ambition to grow.
The Recycling Society also aims to raise the aluminum recycling rate in the USA, which currently stands at around 43%, to 80% in the next decade. This would help reduce dependence on imported aluminum and strengthen domestic production.
According to its executive director, Jessica Alexanderson, schools will collaborate with local scrap yards to show children how recycling can be easy, fun, and transformative. ‘That is a lesson that will last a lifetime.’
The project, which started in Michigan, has already received interest from other states. The goal is to double the number of participating schools to reach 40 spread across 13 states, and continue expanding throughout the country.
The Recycling Society operates as an organization and estimates that incorporating a new school into the program costs around $5,000, allocated to educational materials, awards, and outreach activities. Currently, they are seeking sponsors from the packaging industry and donors who want to support environmental education and ESG goals.
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