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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

920,045

Total Cans Recycled!

Learn how rewarding recycling can be!

Prizes:

$3,000

1st Place

$2,000

2nd Place

$1,000

3rd Place

Pizza Party

For 2nd or 3rd grade when school gets to 75,000 cans

$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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Where to drop cans

View Map

75,000 Can Pizza Party Winners!

1,046 Cans per student

106 Students

1,498 Cans per student

56 Students

680 Cans per student

131 Students

5,176 Cans per student

19 Students

Kentucky 2,681 Cans per student

46 Students

School Leaderboard:

Ranks are based on cans per student! in 2nd or 3rd grade!

1st

West Virginia 5,176 Cans per student

19 Students

2nd

Kentucky 2,681 Cans per student

46 Students

3rd

Pennsylvania 1,853 Cans per student

56 Students

4th

Missouri 1,065 Cans per student

46 Students
49,000 Cans

5th

Kentucky 1,046 Cans per student

106 Students

Indiana 1,023 Cans per student

52 Students

Mississippi 830 Cans per student

131 Students

Pennsylvania 691 Cans per student

26 Students

Alabama 672 Cans per student

78 Students
52,430 Cans

Louisiana 500 Cans per student

99 Students

Pennsylvania 396 Cans per student

105 Students

Kentucky 380 Cans per student

150 Students

Washington 368 Cans per student

72 Students

Waco TX 98 Cans per student

174 Students

SA Texas 65 Cans per student

145 Students

Illinois 15 Cans per student

46 Students

Bradley, Illinois 11 Cans per student

127 Students

Miami Florida 6 Cans per student

161 Students

Pounds of Aluminum Recycled

Ranks are based on cans per student!

Aamazing 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

Where to drop cans

#2millioncans
View Map

Our amazing recyclers have made the news!
📰🍿♻️🥳

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

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

Learn More

Million Cans Recycling Contest Reviews!

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."

Program Guide

Contact

Recycling is like Magic!

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

Email: sales@recyclingislikemagic.com

Social Media

Books

Helpful Links

Websites

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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