Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and Recycling Is Like Magic! announced that more than 1.6 million empty aluminum beverage cans were collected during the 2 Million Cans Recycling Contest. This student-led competition, which ran from October 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, challenged second and third graders to recycle used aluminum beverage cans and compete in a nationwide contest.
Collectively, thousands of students from 18 schools across 12 states participated: Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. These schools were supported by 11 Can Champions from CMI鈥檚 membership: Ardagh Metal Packaging, CANPACK, Constellium, Crown Holdings, Inc., Envases, Kaiser Aluminum, Logan Aluminum, Novelis, PPG, Sherwin-Williams, and Tri-Arrows Aluminum. 鈥淐ongratulations to all the students who surpassed last year鈥檚 total to collect more than 1.6 million cans. Impressively, in two years, our students have recycled about 3 million cans,鈥� said Scott Breen, CMI鈥檚 senior vice president of sustainability.
鈥淭his achievement was made possible through the efforts of students and teachers, as well as the support of each CMI aluminum beverage can sector member and local scrap yards, who partnered up with participating schools,鈥� Breen said. 鈥淭his contest is proof that there is a meaningful and effective way to engage young learners in hands-on recycling practices while delivering valuable funding to support their schools. Aluminum beverage cans are uniquely positioned to support this model given their high monetary value and the hundreds of metal recyclers across the country that readily buy these used cans.鈥�
Schools that competed earned valuable funding from selling used beverage cans (UBCs) to local scrap yards. That money can then be used to support various educational activities and partnerships, further enriching the learning experience. This contest also comes with a significant environmental benefit for local communities.
Aluminum recycling slashes energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 95% versus producing new aluminum, while serving a steady, reliable domestic supply chain. In fact, recycling more than 1.6 million cans produced more than $26,000 in scrap value and represents a GHG energy savings that is enough to power more than 20 million smartphones.
When UBCs are recycled properly, they become a new can in less than 60 days on average. And nearly 97% of recycled aluminum beverage cans in the United States go on to become new cans. Additionally, CMI members provided thousands of dollars in funding that schools received if they met certain challenges or targets during the competition. For example, the top three schools received grand prizes for collecting the most cans per student participating:
- 1st Place: Fairplain Elementary School in Ripley, WV, will receive a $3,000 prize.
- 2nd Place: Mendon Elementary School in Ruffs Dale, PA, will receive a $2,000 prize.
- 3rd Place: Lewisburg Elementary School in Lewisburg, KY, will receive a $1,000 prize.
The contest also recognized several schools with a pizza party for recycling 75,000 cans: Environmental Charter School (PA), Fairplain Elementary (WV), Flynn Park Elementary (MO), L.E. Willson Elementary (AL), Lewisburg Elementary School (KY), Mendon Elementary School (PA), Mt. Washington (KY), Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School (LA), Rich Pond Elementary School (KY), Southaven Elementary (MS), and Yankeetown Elementary School (IN).
A special congratulations to Fairplain, Mendon, and Mt. Washington Elementary Schools for each recycling more than 150,000 cans. These schools earned an additional $500 bonus. Beyond the prize funds, CMI also paid for every student to receive a copy of the children鈥檚 book, The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans. 鈥淭his contest was originally inspired by our children鈥檚 book. The story became a reality thanks to the spirit of students across America who collected empty aluminum beverage cans throughout the school year,鈥� said Jessica Alexanderson, Executive Director of The Recycling Society nonprofit and Author at Recycling is Like Magic!
鈥淭he book taught a valuable lesson 鈥� recycling comes with significant economic and environmental benefits. These recycling superheroes worked hard and showed us that if we make recycling fun and easy for them, they will fill huge bins with cans! We are blown away by their recycling skills.鈥�