We here at Sip & Savor congratulate the aluminum beverage can industry on the impressive results of the America Recycles Day Challenge, which recycled approximately 140 million cans and raised more than $150,000 for charities around the country.

“This was a great team effort and every participating company, facility and employee should be proud of the difference we have made in our local communities and for our environment,” said Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute, in a news release announcing the challenge results.  “Through this effort we diverted more than four million pounds of cans out of the waste stream and back into new products, and in so doing we raised a lot of money for a lot of worthy causes.”

Rexam plants in California and Minnesota won the top three spots.  Fifty-five facilities, including plants and corporate offices of aluminum companies and can manufacturers, participated in the 76 day challenge—working with schools and local organizations to collect and recycle beverage cans.

In announcing the challenge results this week, CMI noted that recycled aluminum cans can be back on store shelves in 60 days and that recycling not only benefits the environment by reducing landfill waste, but also by reducing the energy that would be needed to produce new cans.  Since the America Recycles Day Challenge began in 2003, more than 290 million cans have been recycled.

Our industry, too, has a longstanding commitment to the environment. You can learn more about our efforts on recycling by visiting our recycling issue site.