Million cans recycling contest opened for 2025-26
The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and Recycling Society has announced 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 aluminium beverage cans across America. The competition, which runs through 30 April 2026, will inspire environmental awareness, hands-on learning, teamwork and community engagement with young learners.
“This nationwide contest pairs elementary schools with our US can manufacturer and supplier members, so that students can learn about the circularity of aluminium beverage cans and directly contribute to more used beverage cans becoming new cans,” said CMI president, Scott Breen. “Recycling aluminium 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 aluminium 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. Aluminium beverage cans are one of the most valuable and recyclable commodities and scrap aluminium 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 Aluminium Beverage Can Champions for schools.
Learn more about the prizes and view the full list of sponsors on the contest page at: recyclingsociety.org/millioncans.
Photo Credit: Recycling Society
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.
