Can Manufacturers Institute Partners for a Third Year with Recycling Society on Contest That Has Recycled More Than 3.5 Million Used Aluminum Beverage Cans

Photo Credit: Recycling Society

October 1, 2025 – The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and Recycling Society announced today the start of the Million Cans Recycling Contest. This contest is an exciting partnership with more than 50 schools to engage students in recycling empty aluminum beverage cans across America. The competition, which runs through April 30, 2026, will inspire environmental awareness, hands-on learning, teamwork, and community engagement with young learners.

“This nationwide contest pairs elementary schools with our U.S. can manufacturer and supplier members, so that students can learn about the circularity of aluminum beverage cans and directly contribute to more used beverage cans becoming new cans,” said CMI President Scott Breen. “Recycling aluminum beverage cans comes with significant environmental and economic benefits. We are excited to join the Million Cans Recycling Contest for the third consecutive year and look forward to surpassing last year’s record of more than 1.6 million beverage cans collected for recycling.”

CMI’s aluminum beverage can manufacturers and suppliers are stepping up to support schools in states across the nation, including: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.

Schools that recycle used beverage cans will keep 100% of the proceeds from the sale of collected cans to local scrap yards, turning cans into cash to fund school programs, resources, and infrastructure needs. Aluminum beverage cans are one of the most valuable and recyclable commodities, and scrap aluminum is paid at a market rate by the pound at hundreds of scrap yards across the country.

“Collaboration across the entire value chain is key to a successful Million Cans Recycling Contest,” said Recycling Society Board Member Jenny Wassenaar. “Through partnerships between Can Manufacturers Institute and the Recycling Society, many students will be empowered to become recycling heroes and earn valuable resources for their schools. This creates a foundation for long-term environmental focus and demonstrates how sustainability actions can benefit the community. I am excited to follow the groundbreaking results this year.”

In addition to cash incentives, schools will receive prizes for reaching specific recycling goals throughout the year, including pizza and ice cream parties, for selected grades, as well as end-of-year bonuses awarded to the top three schools that recycle the most beverage cans per student. These prizes are sponsored by CMI members and other donors to the Recycling Society who will serve as Aluminum Beverage Can Champions for schools.

• Learn more about the prizes and view the full list of sponsors on the contest page: https://recyclingsociety.org/millioncans

Every elementary school student participating in the contest within selected grades, will also receive a free copy of The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans, a children’s book that first inspired the recycling contest three years ago.

“Like the character in our book – Ellie, The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans – I can’t wait to see how many beverage cans our amazing recycling superheroes collect this year,” said Recycling Society Executive Director Jessica Alexanderson. “It’s so much fun teaching kids that recycling helps protect our oceans and planet. Our students also make a lifelong pledge to never toss a can in the trash, and I hope that promise sticks with them. I’m excited to welcome in new schools and states this year as we grow with the support of some amazing partners and sponsors.”

Follow along and track the progress of students participating in the Million Cans Recycling Contest online and across social media with the hashtag: #MillionCans.

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Media Photos & Inquiries: Photos are available for media to use from previous contest years. Please credit Recycling Society. For inquiries, contact: Tim Ebner, CMI’s vice president of marketing and communications | Email: tebner@cancentral.com.

The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) is the national trade association of the metal can manufacturing industry and its suppliers in the United States. The can industry accounts for the annual domestic production of approximately 135 billion food, beverage, aerosol, and general line cans; employs more than 28,000 people with plants in 33 states, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa; and generates about $15.7 billion in direct economic activity.

The Recycling Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to turning today’s students into lifelong recyclers—and sparking behavioral change as our “recycling superheroes” inspire their friends and families to recycle, too. Our flagship Million Cans Recycling Contest (Oct 1, 2025–Apr 30, 2026) pairs elementary schools with local scrapyards so students learn that aluminum has value and can be recycled forever. Schools keep 100% of the proceeds from the cans they collect, turning everyday recycling into classroom resources and community pride. With support from sponsors, scrapyards, educators, and donors, we’re growing the contest to more schools across the United States, empowering kids to lead by example at home, at school, and in their neighborhoods. Together, we celebrate progress, build strong local partnerships, and protect our planet—one can at a time.