Schools contest sees 3 million cans recycled

Elementary school students across 14 US states recycled more than three million aluminium beverage cans during the 2025-2026 Million Cans Recycling Contest, collectively diverting enough aluminium from landfills to build the airframe of a Boeing 737.

Cumulatively across three contest years, students have now recycled more than 6.5 million cans, turning what began as a grassroots classroom challenge into one of the country’s most measurable, youth-led recycling programmes in the US. 
 
The contest is led by The Recycling Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in partnership with the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and other beverage can industry partners, driving sustainable aluminium packaging. The 2025–26 cycle is the programme’s first year operating under nonprofit governance, a structural step taken to scale corporate partnerships, expand school participation and open tax-deductible giving for donors. 

The Million Cans Recycling Contest was founded by Jessica Alexanderson and has grown from eight schools in seven states in its inaugural year (2023-24) to 56 schools across 14 states this year. With the programme now fully under The Recycling Society’s leadership, 2026–27 marks the start of a national expansion, purpose-built to onboard new corporate sponsors, deepen CMI member engagement, and bring measurable, classroom-led recycling education to underserved school districts across the country.   

“What I especially love is teaching kids that recycling is a tangible action that can work to protect and strengthen our communities and the environment around us, including wildlife and sea creatures. These elementary students in 14 states recycled more than 3 million cans this year and raised approximately $56,000 for their schools. They aren’t just collecting cans, they’re changing behaviors in their communities and becoming real-life recycling superheroes. We couldn’t be more proud,” said Jessica “Scuba Jess” Alexanderson, executive director, The Recycling Society and co-author of The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans. 

The 2025–26 contest results drove measurable results for schools, local communities, and the environment: 

• More than 6 million aluminium cans collected since the contest first started, weighing approximately 188,000 pounds, equivalent to the airframe weight of a commercial Boeing 737 aircraft. 

• Energy savings equivalent to charging an estimated 36 million smartphones. Aluminium recycling is 95% less carbon-intensive than primary production.¹ 

• Approximately $56,000 in direct funding raised by and donated back to participating schools at market scrap rates, channeled directly to classroom resources and school programs. 

• 4,979 books were donated and over 21,734 elementary students engaged across 14 states in hands-on recycling, so they can learn about the circular economy in action. 

• From bin to can in 60 days or less – that’s the time it takes for a recycled can to become a new can. Recycling is fast and efficient for used aluminium beverage cans.

The Million Cans Recycling Contest pairs each participating school with industry partners: a local scrap yard partner that supplies collection infrastructure and pays the school the prevailing market rate for every pound of aluminium collected, and a CMI-member “Can Champion” or other sponsor provides classroom visits, milestone prize incentives, and educational resources.

This year’s Can Champions included: Aluminum Dynamics, Ardagh Metal Packaging, Ball Corporation, Canpck, Constellium, Crown Holdings, Envases, Kaiser Aluminum, Logan Aluminum, M2 Innovation, Metals Agency, Novelis, PPG Industries, Sennebogen, Sherwin-Williams, and Tri-Arrows Aluminum Inc. 
 
“Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) members teamed up with schools across the country for a third consecutive year to demonstrate the value of recycling used aluminium beverage cans,” said Roxanne Sharif, director of sustainability at CMI. “This recycling programme is proof that there are meaningful and effective ways to engage young learners in hands-on recycling practices while delivering valuable funding to support their schools. Since 97% of recycled cans become new cans, we’re excited to take the aluminium these recycling superheroes kept in the recycling system and make it part of new cans.” 

First place

Fairplain Elementary (WV) recycled 160,790 cans, averaging an incredible 8,040 cans per student.

Second place

Mendon Elementary (PA) recycled 184,275 cans, with an impressive 6,143 cans per student.  

Third place

Tri County Primary (IN) recycled 235,200 cans, averaging 3,856 cans per student. 

Honourable mention

Mt Washington Elementary (KY) recycled an amazing 288,400 cans, the highest overall can total in the entire contest, averaging 3,204 cans per student.  

2026-27 expansion

Building on three years of measurable program growth, The Recycling Society is opening the 2026-27 Million Cans Recycling Contest to a target of 75+ schools in non-deposit states, with priority enrollment for Title I schools and underserved districts. Corporate sponsors interested in becoming a Can Champion or contributing to the program’s national expansion can contact Jessica Alexanderson at [email protected]. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, contributions to The Recycling Society are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Schools, scrap yards, and industry partners interested in participating can inquire by emailing [email protected]. Registration for the 2026-27 contest opens on 13 July 2026.

Follow the contest at RecyclingSociety.org and on social media using the hashtag #MillionCans.