CMI Launches 'Great American Can Roundup'

The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) will hold its Third Annual Great American Can Roundup School Challenge, beginning Nov. 15 in honor of the national observance of America Recycles Day.

Designed to educate students about the importance and benefits of recycling cans, the competition rates participating schools on a comparison between the pounds of cans recycled and the number of enrolled students. CMI awards $1,000 per state to the school recycling the most beverage cans per capita and an additional $5,000 to the national recycling champion school.

“The can is America’s most recycled package. Each year, the United States recycles more than 61 billion aluminum cans,” said CMI president Robert Budway. “We hope this campaign inspires school children to incorporate recycling into their daily lives and pass the message along to their family and friends.”

Last year, more than 790 schools from all 50 states representing more than 66,000 students competed in the contest. Participating schools recycled more than 4.5 million aluminum beverage cans, totaling more than 131,180 pounds. The cans generated more than $65,500 for school activities and other uses.

In addition to the School Challenge, CMI hosted an Intra-Industry Challenge between January of this year and Oct. 1 as part of the Great American Can Roundup. Launched in 2003, the Intra-Industry Challenge encourages manufacturing facilities nationwide to partner with schools and local organizations to collect and recycle used beverage cans, with all proceeds going to a local charity of choice. Last year, facilities recycled more than 3 million cans, diverted more than 88,000 pounds of cans out of the waste stream, and raised more than $75,000 for charities across the country.

Washington, D.C.-based CMI aims to triple the number of schools participating in the 2012-2013 Challenge; schools interested in competing can register on CMI’s official website.