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The 2 Million Cans Recycling Contest

Can Manufacturers Institute & Recycling is Like Magic are back! 🎉 Schools across the USA are teaming up with local scrapyards in a race to recycle 2 million cans from Oct. 2024 to April 2025. Who will win? Let the recycling games begin! ♻️

States

Schools

Books Distributed

!

Cans Recycled
January Update
Can totals

618,695

Total Cans Recycled!

Learn how rewarding recycling can be!

Prizes:

$3,000

1st Place

$2,000

2nd Place

$1,000

3rd Place

$100

75,000 Cans Pizza Party

$500

150,000 Cans Bonus Money

** Schools keep 100% of the money earned from the cans they recycle! We use 35 cans for one pound

** Rankings are determined by the total number of cans recycled, divided by the number of students who received free copies of The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans at each school.

Program Guide

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Recycling Pledge

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Press Release

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Meet the Contestants

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School Leaderboard:

Ranks are based on cans per student!

1st

West Virginia

3,865 Cans per student

19 Students

2nd

Pennsylvania

1,498 Cans per student

56 Students

3rd

Kentucky

1,285 Cans per student

55 Students

4th

Missouri

1,065 Cans per student

46 Students
49,000 Cans

5th

Indiana

1,046 Cans per student

106 Students
Kentucky

734 Cans per student

52 Students
Pennsylvania

691 Cans per student

26 Students
Pennsylvania

396 Cans per student

105 Students
Alabama

336 Cans per student

78 Students
26,180 Cans
Kentucky

302 Cans per student

150 Students
Mississippi

200 Cans per student

131 Students
Louisiana

160 Cans per student

99 Students
Illinois

98 Cans per student

174 Students
Washington

15 Cans per student

46 Students
Texas

14 Cans per student

72 Students
Illinois

11 Cans per student

127 Students
Florida

6 Cans per student

161 Students
Texas

2 Cans per student

145 Students
Every Can Counts!

Pounds of Aluminum Recycled

Thanks a MILLION to our amazing Can Manufacturers Institute Sponsors!

Ardagh Metal Packaging

Schools: Marya Yates & Southaven Elementary
Learn More

Canpack

School: Our Mother of Perpetual Help School
Learn More

Constellium

Schools: L.E. Willson Elementary & Fairplain Elementary
Learn More

Crown Cork & Seal

Schools: Bradley West & Rich Pond
Learn More

Envases

Schools: La Vega & Big Country Elementary
Learn More

Kaiser Aluminum

Schools: Yankeetown Elementary School
Learn More

Logan Aluminum

School: Lewisburg Elementary School
Learn More

Novelis

School: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
Learn More

PPG

School: Environmental Charter School
Learn More

Sherwin-Williams

School: Mendon Elementary School
Learn More

Tri-Arrows Aluminum

School: Mt. Washington
Learn More

Meet the C♻️♻️L Scrapyards!

Alter Trading

School: Flynn Park Elementary
Learn More

Big Daddy Scrap

Schools: Bradley West & Marya Yates
Learn More

CMC Recycle

School: Big Country Elementary
Learn More

Cumberland Scrap

School: Lewisburg Elementary
Learn More

Grade A Auto and Recycling

School: Mt. Washington
Learn More

Iskiwitz Metal

School: Southaven Elementary
Learn More

Louisiana Scrap Metal

School: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
Learn More

M. Lipsitz and Co.

School: La Vega Elementary
Learn More

Mon Valley Recycling

Schools: Environmental Charter & Mendon
Learn More

Radius Recycling

School: Sherwood Forest Elementary STEAM School
Learn More

RJ Recycling

School: Fairplain Elementary
Learn More

SA Recycling

Schools: L.E. Willson, David Lawrence, Yankeetown & Rich Pond
Learn More

Sahd Metal

School: Our Mother of Perpetual Help School
Learn More

CMI

Can Manufacturers Institue
Learn More

1,648 total students

#2millioncans

Which state will recycle the most? The USA recycles only 45% of cans—we CAN do better!

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The book that sparked a movement

The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans

Did you know that the USA recycles only 45% of cans, even though they're 100% recyclable? Let's turn that number around by teaching kids how they can make a difference!

Meet Ellie, the unicorn-loving, can-recycling superstar who's on a mission to save the planet. When she discovers that she can get money for recycling cans, she sets her sights on collecting one million of them to buy her very own unicorn. But she can't do it alone, so she enlists the help of her friends and the entire school to join in her crusade. Will they succeed? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Order a copy
How many cans will you recycle?

Take the can recycling pledge

Students across the USA are solving the recycling crisis by taking the can recycling pledge. They vow to never throw a can in the trash for the rest of their lives. Join us today in making a difference!

Print copies

Check out photos of our amazing recycling superheros on our Facebook page.

#2MILLIONCANS

Program Guide

Rich Pond
Yankeetown
L.E. Willson
La Vega
Sahd Metal Making a can bale
Print

We love our readers and recyclers! Watch this cute video from last year’s contest.

#MILLIONCANS

The 2 Million Cans Recycling Contest

How many cans can your school recycle?
The 2 Million Cans Program Guide
2 Million Cans Press Release
What: The 2 Million Cans Recycling Contest is a fun contest where schools and scrapyards team up to see which school can recycle the most aluminum cans per student.

Who: 2nd or 3rd graders will rally their schools and communities to recycle. Each school can pick which grade they would like to lead the way.

When: October 01, 2024 to April 30, 2025

Where: Elementary schools across the USA

Why: Only 45% of cans get recycled in the USA. We need your help to make a difference!

Let’s join forces to recycle two million cans!

Perks:

  • 2nd or 3rd grade students get FREE copies of the book The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans.
  • $10,000 in books and prizes will be awarded!
  • Teach students about the importance of recycling!
  • Help your school, community, and the planet while having fun!
  • Earn money for your school for all the cans you collect! Aluminum is paid for by the pound (35 cans per pound).
  • The more cans you collect, the more money your school will get!

Steps: 

  • Scrapyards drop off a large bin at the school
  • Students and the community fill it up 
  • Schools get to keep the money from the cans they recycle

Prizes: 

  • 1st Place $3,000
  • 2nd Place $2,000
  • 3rd Place $1,000
  • 75,000 Cans Pizza Party for 2nd or 3rd graders 
  • 150,000 Cans will earn a $500 Bonus for Each school 
  • $250 per school for marketing 

Sponsors: Can Manufacturers Institute 

Aluminum Suppliers and Can Makers across the USA 

Ardagh Metal Packaging ,CANPACK , CROWN Holdings, Inc., Constellium  Envases,

Kaiser Aluminum, Logan Aluminum ,  Novelis , PPG, Sherwin Williams , Tri-Arrows Aluminum 

It's a win-win help our planet and your local school by recycling cans!

Can your school win? Grand prizes will be based on the number of students who got the books divided by the number of cans each school recycles. 

Follow the contest on social media #2MillionCans

Meet the schools, scrapyards and Sponsors

  • We’re thrilled to introduce the 18 amazing schools participating in our 2 Million Cans Recycling Contest, running from October through the end of April! With the support of these incredible scrapyards and aluminum companies, we’re teaching students across the USA to never throw cans in the trash. 🌎♻️🥫🦄📚

    Together, let’s help them reach their goal of recycling 2 million cans this year! Save your cans for these schools and join the fun today! 🌎🥳
  • #ALABAMA
    L.E. Willson Elementary is teaming up with SA Recycling and Constellium
    78 students
  • #FLORIDA
    David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center is partnering with SA Recycling and CMI
    161 students
  • #ILLINOIS
    Bradley West Elementary is joining forces with Big Daddy Scrap Inc. and Crown Holdings, Inc.
    127 students

    Marya Yates Elementary School is recycling with Big Daddy Scrap and Ardagh Metal Packaging
    46 students
  • #INDIANA
    Yankeetown Elementary School is working with SA Recycling and Kaiser Aluminum Warrick
    52 students
  • #KENTUCKY
    RICH POND ELEMENTARY PTO INC School is crushing it with SA Recycling and Crown
    150 students

    Lewisburg Elementary School is recycling with Cumberland Scrap Processors and Logan Aluminum
    55 students

    Mt. Washington Elementary is partnering with Grade A Auto Parts and Recycling and Tri-Arrows Aluminum, Inc.
    106 students
  • #LOUISIANA
    Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School is teaming up with Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling and CMI
    99 students
  • #MISSISSIPPI
    Southaven Elementary School is partnering with Iskiwitz Metals and Ardagh Metal
    131 students
  • #MISSOURI
    Flynn Park Elementary is joining with Alter Trading and CMI
    46 students
  • #TEXAS
    LA VEGA ISD Elementary School is collaborating with M Lipsitz & Co and Envases
    174 students

    Big Country Elementary School is partnering with CMC Recycle and Envases
    145 students
  • #PENNSYLVANIA
    Our Mother Of Perpetual Help School is working with Sahd Metal Recycling and CANPACK Group
    26 students

    Environmental Charter School is partnering with Mon-Valley Recycling Center and PPG
    105 students

    Mendon Elementary School is teaming up with Mon-Valley Recycling and Sherwin-Williams
    56 students
  • #WASHINGTON
    Sherwood Forest Elementary School STEAM School is joining forces with Radius Recycling and Recycling is like Magic!
    72 students
  • #WEST VIRGINIA
    Fairplain Elementary is working with RJ Industrial Recycling LLC and Constellium
    56 students
  • We can’t wait to see how many cans these 1685 students and schools can recycle with your help! Together, we’re making a difference, one can at a time. 🎉🌟♻️ hashtag#2millioncans

    Help us hit our goal—save your cans for these schools and be a part of something magical! 💖

Yankeetown Elementary

Taunya Kirsch
4th grade teacher & Environmental Club sponsor at Yankeetown Elementary.

Million Cans Recycling Contest Review

Our school has really enjoyed participating in The Million Cans Recycling Contest. It was great having our students & community all bring in cans to recycle instead of throwing them in the trash can. Hopefully those will have a lasting impact & everyone remembers how easy & valuable it is to recycle. “

La Vega Elementary

Laura Klander
Assistant Principal La Vega Elementary

Million Cans Recycling Contest Review

On behalf of La Vega Elementary, I want to express how truly grateful we are that Jessica, at Recycling is like Magic! (Scrap University Kids) in Bellevue, Washington, found and selected our school to represent all of Texas! We have had the best time working together on this amazing project all year. Yes, it is sticky, stinky, messy, and cumbersome, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Our school district united, we met new friends in the business community, and we hope to continue with our pledge to "never throw away another can again."

Jessica, you have had a tremendous impact in your first year. I cannot wait to read your next books, follow, and support you."

Contact

Recycling is like Magic!

114 W Magnolia St
Suite # 400-107
Bellingham, WA 98225

Email: sales@recyclingislikemagic.com

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Recycling is like Magic teaches kids that ALL metal can be recycled and has value at local scrapyards. Let’s save the planet one can at a time! 🌎♻️🌟

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