Schools recycle over 2.3 million aluminum cans

Schools across America recycled more than 2.3 million aluminum beverage cans through a new national recycling competition sponsored by the can industry. The recycled cans, totaling over 68,000 pounds, generated more than $34,000 for school activities and other uses.

The schools competed in the Great American Can Roundup (GACR) – School Challenge, a national competition sponsored by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), the trade association representing can makers and their suppliers. Competing schools were rated on a per capita basis, comparing the pounds of cans recycled to the number of students participating.

With recycling rate of 29.21 pounds (approximately 1,000 cans) per student – more than double the per capita rate of any other school – Expedition Academy in Green River, Wyoming, was the national winner. Spalding Academy in Spalding, Nebraska, and Cascade High School in Cascade, Montana, had the second and third highest per capita recycling totals, respectively. CMI awarded $1,000 to the top recycling school in each state and an additional $5,000 to the top school nationally, Expedition Academy, for a total payout of $36,000. Combined with the recycling proceeds, the 108 schools collectively earned over $70,000.

The 2010-2011 GACR School Challenge marked the first year of an annual event that begins on America Recycles Day, November 15, and ends on Earth Day, April 22. A total of 108 schools from 30 states, representing over 56,000 students, competed in the contest. CMI has set a goal of quadrupling the number of schools participating in the 2011-2012 challenge; schools interested in competing may now register at www.cancentral.com/roundup.