On Your Mark -- Get Set -- Recycle!

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Sep 15, 2010, 09:44 ET

-- Can Manufacturers Institute Launches the Great American Can RoundUp –

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the beverage can this year, the Can Manufacturers Institute is launching "The Great American Can RoundUp" – a recycling initiative to ignite the inner environmentalist in all Americans.

The Great American Can RoundUp program is designed to help organizations recycle cans for cash and raise environmental awareness among participants with fun, easy-to-use resource kits. The program is open to all groups – boys and girls scout troops, churches, community groups, schools, charities and any others organization with an interest in the environment. The initiative is an easy and efficient way to raise money for charities, school programs or community organizations simply by recycling cans.

"Last year, Americans recycled 55.5 billion aluminum cans and collected close to $1 billion," said Robert Budway, President of the Can Manufacturers Institute. "By launching the Great American Can RoundUp, we're encouraging all Americans to get cash for cans and help to reach our recycling rate goal of 75%. Just as the can is endlessly recyclable, this initiative will show us the countless ways participants can use their recycling earnings to better their schools, organizations, groups and communities."

Schools who register for the Great American Can RoundUp will be eligible for cash prizes. The top can-collecting school from each state and the District of Columbia will receive $1,000. And the school that registers the overall largest recycled cans total will be dubbed national champion and awarded the grand prize of $5,000. Recycled totals will be judged on a per capita basis for all participating schools.

Those interested in the Great American Can RoundUp can find more information, the official registration form, rules and a free educational Can RoundUp toolkit at CMI's website – www.cancentral.com/roundup. Registration will remain open until America Recycles Day, November 15. Registered groups can begin collecting cans immediately and will be able to submit receipts for all recycled cans up until April 22, 2011 – Earth Day.

For facts on recycling and information about the history of the beverage can, please visit www.canniversary.com

To schedule interviews, please contact Barb Cvrkel at [email protected] or 301.919.6669.

To follow CMI's Cans: Infinitely Recyclable and mascot Al the Can on Twitter and Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Al-the-Can/154136824492?ref=search

http://twitter.com/ALtheCan

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cans-Infinitely-Recyclable/270897756821

http://twitter.com/CansRecyclable

SOURCE Can Manufacturers Institute