Competition Inspires Cities to Recycle 107 Million Aluminum Cans

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayors around the country are finding it's cool to be green, as their cities recycled more than three million pounds of aluminum beverage cans during a competition to keep aluminum out of landfills.

Novelis, the global leader in aluminum rolled products and aluminum can recycling, along with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, are committed to increasing the nation's recycling rate with the Cans for Cash: City Recycling Challenge. Every year, cities compete in a month-long challenge to see which cities collect the most aluminum cans. During the competition held last October, 36 cities collected more than 107 million cans.

The winners of the seventh annual challenge were announced today and will be presented with their awards tomorrow during the U.S. Conference of Mayors 79th Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

"This interactive campaign unites communities, heightens awareness of the importance of recycling, and offers citizens an avenue to recycle," said Jean-Marc Germain, Senior Vice President of Novelis and President, Novelis North America. "We hope to remind participants there is great value in recycling aluminum cans as each can that avoids the trash bin saves energy and natural resources.  Recycling just one can saves enough energy to operate a television for two hours."

Leading the way toward a greener and more sustainable future, Cans for Cash: City Recycling Challenge has collected and recycled more than 793 million aluminum cans since the challenge started in 2004.

"Right now, America recycles just over half of the aluminum cans we produce each year," said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the United States Conference of Mayors.  "Increasing our aluminum can recycling rate doesn't just generate revenue for cities; it also saves energy and natural resources, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Through campaigns like Cans for Cash, as well as everyday efforts, America's Mayors are committed to providing the environmental stewardship it will take to have our country recycle 100 percent of the cans we produce every year."

Keep America Beautiful （KAB） President and CEO, Matthew McKenna, commented:  "KAB is dedicated to fostering public/private partnerships that engage individuals, business leaders and those in government to prevent litter and reduce waste.  Through these partnerships, our affiliates promote recycling awareness and improve access to recycling systems, uniting with their local communities to build a more sustainable future."

Awards are handed out in three categories:  Most Cans Collected, Most Innovative Campaign and Most Innovative Campaign with KAB.