Metal packaging sector partners, led by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), have successfully concluded the 2025–2026 Million Cans Recycling Contest, securing vital Used Beverage Can (UBC) feedstock while driving grassroots circular economy education.

Elementary students across 56 schools in 14 states recycled more than 3 million aluminum beverage cans during the cycle. This brings the three-year cumulative contest total to over 6.5 million cans, effectively diverting approximately 188,000 pounds of high-value aluminum from landfills—equivalent to the airframe weight of a commercial Boeing 737 aircraft.

Scale and Structural Evolution

The 2025–26 cycle marked the program’s first year operating under 501(c)(3) nonprofit governance via The Recycling Society. This structural shift from a classroom challenge founded by Jessica Alexanderson to a formal nonprofit model was designed to scale corporate partnerships, deepen CMI member engagement, and expand school participation.

Since its 2023–24 inaugural year, the program has scaled from eight schools across seven states to 56 schools.

“There are a lot of recycling programs in America. Very few of them can hand a CFO a per-pound impact number, a per-school engagement number, and a per-dollar return number. This one can.”

— Andrew Hyde, President of The Recycling Society

Measuring the Supply Chain & Community Impact

For the metal packaging industry, the contest underscores the rapid circularity of the aluminum beverage container, which can move from the recycling bin back to retail shelves as a new can in 60 days or less. Utilizing recycled aluminum instead of primary production reduces carbon intensity by 95%.

From a financial and community standpoint, the current cycle yielded:

• $56,000 in direct funding paid back to participating schools at prevailing market scrap rates via local scrap yard partners.
• Energy savings equivalent to charging an estimated 36 million smartphones.
• Engagement of 21,734 elementary students, incorporating manufacturing and circularity concepts into local curricula.

Broad Industry Backing

The contest framework pairs individual schools with local scrap processors for collection infrastructure and a CMI-member “Can Champion” or industry sponsor to provide educational resources and milestone prizes.

The 2025–26 roster of Can Champions featured major global players across the aluminum rolling, can manufacturing, and coating supply chains:

“CMI members teamed up with schools across the country for a third consecutive year to demonstrate the value of recycling used aluminum beverage cans,” said Roxanne Sharif, Director of Sustainability at CMI. “Since 97% of recycled cans become new cans, we’re excited to take the aluminum these recycling superheroes kept in the recycling system and make it part of new cans.”

Top Performing Institutions

• 1st Place: Fairplain Elementary (WV) — 160,790 cans (Averaging 8,040 cans per student).
• 2nd Place: Mendon Elementary (PA) — 184,275 cans (Averaging 6,143 cans per student).
• 3rd Place: Tri County Primary (IN) — 235,200 cans (Averaging 3,856 cans per student).
• Highest Volume: Mt. Washington Elementary (KY) — 288,400 total cans.

2026–27 National Expansion

Looking ahead to the 2026–27 cycle, The Recycling Society plans a national expansion targeting more than 75 schools in non-deposit states, prioritizing Title I schools and underserved districts.

The transition to a non-profit governance structure enables new corporate sponsors to leverage tax-deductible contributions to support the program. Registration for the 2026–27 contest officially opens on July 13th, 2026. Industry stakeholders looking to secure regional Can Champion sponsorships can coordinate directly via info@recyclingsociety.org.