CMI teams up with Recycling is likeMagic for 2 million cans campaign

Can Manufacturers Institute (USA) is working with the environmental nonprofit Recycling is like Magic to launch the 2 Million Can Recycling Contest.

The contest will target more than 1,600 second and third grade students to see if they can surpass the 1.3 million cans recycled in last year’s contest.

The program inspires environmental awareness, hands-on learning, teamwork and community engagement with young students. The Aluminum Association’s annual membership meeting is a prelude to its upcoming meetings in Washington, D.C., Oct. 21-23. The annual Boultinghouse Award for excellence in the industry and more will be presented at this meeting.

The competition, which runs through April 30, 2025, will inspire environmental awareness, hands-on learning, teamwork and community involvement with young students.

“This year, the 2 Million Can Recycling Contest is setting the bar even higher. The goal is to engage more than 1,600 second and third grade students in recycling best practices to see if they can recycle even more aluminum beverage cans.” said CMI’s senior vice president of sustainability, Scott Breen.

Schools across the country will win valuable funds and prizes during the competition to support vital school programs and infrastructure. Funding for schools comes in one of two ways:

⦁ Each school will earn money from the aluminum beverage cans it collects and sells to a local partner scrap yard. Aluminum cans are one of the most valuable recyclable products and scrap aluminum is paid a market price per pound at hundreds of scrap yards across the country.

⦁ Schools will also receive awards for achieving specific recycling goals during the year, with three schools receiving top prizes. These awards are sponsored by CMI members who will serve as sponsors of the aluminum beverage can contest. Learn more about the awards and view the full list of sponsors at http://savingtime.com/2millioncans/.

“Recycling aluminum beverage cans carries significant environmental and economic benefits, especially when we all work together as a team to collect and recycle as many cans as possible.”said Breen.

Aluminum can manufacturers and suppliers are stepping forward to support schools in 12 states: Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and West Virginia. A complete list of participating schools can be found at: savingtime.com/2millioncans/

Each student who enters the contest will also receive a free copy of http://The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans , the book that inspired this recycling contest.

“This initiative will teach students about the value of recycling used aluminum beverage cans and how it makes a difference for people and our planet.” said the book’s author, Jessica Alexanderson, also known as Scuba Jess, who is also the president of Recycling Is Like Magic! “Our youngest minds are leading the way in the 2 Million Can Recycling Contest, and I’m excited to see what they will accomplish this year.”