Rexam wins Can Recycling Challenge

Rexam’s Beverage Can North America’s (BCNA) Chicago location has received first place in the Great American Can RoundUp (GACR) Industry Challenge by recycling more than 61,000 pounds of aluminum used beverage containers (UBCs). The contest was sponsored by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), Washington. The contest winners are determined by the number of pounds of aluminum collected per employee.

The GACR Industry Challenge collected and recycled 193,213 pounds of UBCs, raising more than $85,000 for local charities across the United States.

Rexam’s recycling efforts raised nearly $24,500 for various local charities. As the winner of the challenge, the company received an additional $2,000 to donate to charity.

“The Great American Can Roundup recycling contest continues to be a great opportunity for our industry to show our local communities how easy it is to recycle and the inherent value in aluminum,” says Claude Marbach, president and CEO, Rexam BCNA. “It is our pleasure to team with fellow canmakers, suppliers and local charities to set a positive example in the communities we do business in. On behalf of the entire team at Rexam, I’d like to thank the manufacturing plant and office teams across our industry that participated this year and continue to position the aluminum beverage can as the most environmentally-friendly beverage package in the world.”

Broomfield, Colorado-based Ball Corp.’s Findlay plant in Ohio took second place in the contest. The company’s Findlay plant recycled 38,364 pounds of UBCs, equating to more than $17,400 raised in addition to the $1,000 prize money, which will go toward a charity of the company’s choice.

Ball Corp.’s Rome plant in Georgia took third place by recycling 10,199 pounds of UBCs and raising more than $4,000 for charity.

“We’re proud to be actively involved in this industry initiative to encourage recycling and help increase North American recycling rates,” says Kathleen Pitre, vice president of communications and corporate relations at Ball Corp. “Sustainability is a big part of who we are at Ball, and the Great American Can Roundup is a wonderful way for us to promote the infinite recyclability of metal packaging while positively impacting the environment and the communities where we operate.”

CMI says it sponsors the GACR Industry Challenge annually to promote awareness around the environmental benefits of recycling aluminum cans. The 2015 challenge involved more than 40 facilities, including plants and corporate offices. Participating U.S. can manufacturers include Rexam BCNA, Crown Holdings Inc., Philadelphia, and Ball Corp., as well as the two aluminum supplier companies, Novelis, Atlanta, and Alcoa, with headquarters in New York and Pittsburgh. The facilities partner together with their local schools, charities and other organizations to spread the recycling message and give back to their community.

“Recycling allows for aluminum cans to be put back on store shelves in as few as 60 days,” says CMI President Robert Budway. “Our industry is proud of the superior environmental benefits of the aluminum beverage can, and CMI is honored to sponsor the GACR in order to raise awareness about recycling and how to maintain a sustainable community. This industry contest provides an opportunity for can manufacturers and suppliers to show they are environmental stewards while also raising money for their local charities.”

Aluminum beverage cans are 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled an infinite number of times, according to the Aluminum Association, Arlington, Virginia.

Since its inception, the GACR Industry Challenge has recycled more than 7 million pounds of UBCs, equating to more than $7 million raised for charities around the country.

CMI says it also sponsors other competitions under the GACR umbrella in order to promote and engage recycling within various communities around the country. Raising environmental awareness about the importance of recycling cans is one of CMI’s main initiatives. For more information about the Great American Can Roundup, visit www.canroundup.com.

CMI is the national trade association of the metal can manufacturing industry and its suppliers in the United States. The can industry accounts for the annual domestic production of approximately 124 billion food, beverage and other metal cans; which employs more than 28,000 people with plants in 33 states, Puerto Rico and American Samoa; and generates about $17.8 billion in direct economic activity. CMI says its members are committed to providing safe, nutritious and refreshing canned food and beverages to consumers.