Aluminum Can Industry Recycling Challenge Collects 178,000 Pounds of Beverage Cans Resulting in More Than $133,600 Donated to Charity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Great American Can RoundUp Industry Challenge, sponsored by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), declares Rexam Beverage Can North America as the 2012-2013 competition winner. This year, the aluminum can industry collected and recycled 178,000 pounds of beverage cans, raising more than $133,600 for local charities across the United States.

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Rexam's North American beverage can headquarters office in Chicago recycled more than 55,700 pounds of aluminum cans (671 pounds per employee), which equates to more than $42,000 raised for various local charities.

Ball Corporation's Findlay, OH, facility came in second place by recycling 37,756 pounds of cans (104 pounds per employee), followed by Rexam's Whitehouse, OH, facility at 8,846 pounds (68 pounds per employee).

Winners are selected from the highest per-capita collection rates based on the number of pounds of aluminum collected per employee at each site.  

"We're happy to align with our industry to show the superior value of beverage can recycling," said Rich Grimley, president and CEO, Rexam Beverage Can North America. "This industry contest gives our people a chance to represent our company and the product we make very favorably with our local communities and customers, positioning the beverage can as the best environmental beverage packaging option in the world."

CMI sponsors the Great American Can RoundUp Industry Challenge annually to promote awareness around the environmental benefits of recycling aluminum cans. Participation from American can manufacturers and aluminum suppliers is the backbone of the competitions success. Rexam, Ball Corporation, Crown Holdings Inc., Novelis and Alcoa all engage their facilities around the country to collect and recycle aluminum beverage cans. The plant facilities partner together with their local schools, charities and other organizations to spread the recycling message.

"The CMI recycling challenge underscores our industry's dedication to be leading environmental stewards," said CMI President Robert Budway.  "The aluminum can's infinite recyclability and high intrinsic value allow our member companies to make significant contributions to local charities across the country. Our industry continues to reinforce to consumers that aluminum can recycling is a great way to do their part for the environment."

CMI also sponsors other competitions under the Great American Can RoundUp umbrella in order to promote and engage recycling within various communities around the country.  Raising environmental awareness about the importance of recycling cans is one of CMI's main initiatives. For more information about the Great American Can RoundUp, visit www.cancentral.com/roundup. 

Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) 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 124 billion food, beverage and other metal cans; which employs more than 28,000 people with plants in 33 states, Puerto Rico and American Samoa; and generates about $17.8 billion in direct economic activity. Our members are committed to providing safe, nutritious and refreshing canned food and beverages to consumers. 

SOURCE Can Manufacturers Institute