Greenville, Mississippi, launches aluminum can recycling program

The city of Greenville, Mississippi, has launched a new community-driven recycling program in partnership with Every Can Counts U.S., Washington, and Replenysh, Los Angeles, to increase the recovery of aluminum beverage cans.

The Every Can Counts Cans for Cash Circularity Center is the second location nationwide and the first in Mississippi, thanks to a partnership with the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) says. Cans for Cash launched its first site on America Recycles Day in Blytheville, Arkansas. The program targets communities with limited or no access to recycling along major waterways, including the banks of the Mississippi River.

“Thanks to the collaboration of MRCTI, Replenysh and Every Can Counts, Greenville is proud to be the first city in Mississippi to launch the self-sustaining Cans for Cash Circularity Center,” Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons says. “This center serves as a model for future recycling efforts, generating funds to support ongoing sustainability initiatives in our community. Earth Day is a momentous day for Greenville, and I look forward to the positive impact this initiative will have on our city and the environment.”

CMI says the goal of the program is to enhance local communities and provide direct digital payouts for participants who recycle used beverage cans (UBCs).

“This is an impact-driven program to increase aluminum beverage can recycling along the banks of the Mississippi River,” says Scott Breen, senior vice president of sustainability at CMI, which supports the Every Can Counts U.S. chapter. “On Earth Day, we celebrate this innovative recycling model, which leverages the power of technology, community engagement and the high market value of used aluminum beverage cans, with direct payouts for the program’s participants.”

Residents in Greenville who drop off empty aluminum beverage cans at the Circularity Center will receive a digital payment of $0.30 per pound for cans. Rates vary by community and are subject to change based on the market value of scrap aluminum. Additional revenue from the scrap value will go to the city to support local community efforts, according to CMI.

“Many communities today are underserved by recycling and are looking for a solution they can trust,” Replenysh CEO and founder Mark Armen says. “We are excited to be working with Every Can Counts as the circularity partner to provide much-needed recycling infrastructure to cities and their residents. The city of Greenville can now leverage our tools and network to monetize materials and drive value to residents in a new way. We are excited to expand the Cans for Cash Circularity Centers to Mississippi to capture even more aluminum beverage cans for recycling.”

To ensure materials are accepted for recycling, participants must clean and empty all UBCs and separate cans from plastic bottles.