U.S. Coast Guard Academy Wins Overall in Inter-Academy Recycling Contest Sponsored by the Can Manufacturers Institute

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Coast Guard Academy claimed top honors in the Great American Can RoundUp's (GACR) first Commander-in-Chief's Challenge by recycling more than 89,000 beverage cans, equating to almost a pound per cadet or more than 2,560 pounds of total cans recycled.  U.S. Military Academy Company C3, 3^rd Regiment recycled nearly 11,790 aluminum cans, putting them in first place for the individual company competition.

In celebration of Earth Day, today, Director of Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Maureen Sullivan presented the trophy and prize money to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon.   

Sponsored by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), the GACR spreads awareness of the environmental benefits of recycling aluminum cans.  This first Commander-in-Chief's Challenge, provides an environment that fosters healthy competition and educational opportunities for both the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and U.S. Military Academy. The challenge ran from November 15, 2013, (America Recycles Day) through March 15, 2014 and with more than 163,200 cans recycled overall, both academies fully embraced the recycling competition.

"Congratulations to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Military Academy on both of their superb performances in the first U.S. Commander-in-Chief's can recycling competition," said CMI President Robert Budway. "We are proud that these men and woman recognize that the more we recycle cans, the fewer natural resources we use and the less pollution we create for our environment. The can is 100 percent recyclable, allowing for an easy step toward a more sustainable world."

"The Academy community is committed to achieving measurable success in sustainability," said U.S. Coast Guard Academy Superintendent Rear Admiral Sandra Stosz. "Recycling is a visible and dynamic initiative here, and as such, is a key element of our sustainability program. I'm very proud of the ongoing efforts of our Corps of Cadets to increase recycling awareness and promote waste reduction at our facility." 

As the top per capita aluminum can recycling winner of the inter-academy challenge, the Coast Guard Academy distinguishes itself with an engraved plate on the Commander-in-Chief's Perpetual Trophy, as well as a $3,000 for future academy activities. Of the eight companies within the academy, the Echo Company received $500 for collecting the most cans, recycling 3,254 cans, which equates to 94 pounds.  Accepting the award were Cadets Allyson Roesch and Kimberlee Capp.

Nearly 74,200 cans were collected and recycled by the U.S. Military Academy during this challenge, which equates to more than 2,100 pounds recycled by all 36 companies within the academy. Company C3, 3^rd Regiment received $500 for taking first place against all 44 competing companies.  Cadet McKenzie Hudgins, C1C, accepted the check for the academy.

The GACR Commander-in-Chief's Challenge is part of a larger Can Manufacturers Institute initiative to promote and engage community recycling involvement, sponsor recycling events and distribute educational materials on the importance of environmental stewardship.  Other challenges engage schools, scouts and the industry in working to encourage communities of various types in our recycling initiatives.

http://cancentral.com/media/news/us-coast-guard-academy-wins-overall-inter-academy-recycling-contest-sponsored-can

For more information about the can's sustainability attributes, please visit www.cancentral.com/sustainability.

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. 

Contact: Sherrie Rosenblatt, Jenny Day
Phone: 202-232-4677
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

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SOURCE Can Manufacturers Institute