Second Annual Great American Can Roundup Scout Council Challenge Winners Announced

HUTCHINSON, Kan., June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Girl Scout Troop 50044 continued their streak as the top national recycling troop in the second annual Great American Can Roundup (GACR) Scout Council Challenge by collecting 8,772 pounds of aluminum cans. Pitted against scouts from more than 139 troops/units participating in this year's challenge, Troop 50044 collected and recycled the most aluminum beverage cans per capita relative to their competitors.

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The GACR Scout Council Challenge, sponsored by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), was implemented to create awareness of the environmental benefits of recycling cans. The challenge began on January 15, 2013, and ended on April 30, 2013.  A total of 37 councils represented the 139 troops/units participated this year, recycling more than 1.2 million beverage cans, which equates to 33,386 pounds of cans.  Second and third place troop recycling honors went to Hutchinson Troops 50244 and 50028, which recycled 853 and 669 pounds per capita, respectively.  As the top recycling troop of the 2013 GACR Scout Council Challenge, Troop 50044 won $500, plus the value of the cans collected.

Rounding out the troop leader board were:  Girl Scout Troop 9129 from Laredo, Texas' Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas Council; Boy Scout Troop 157 from Cissna Park, Illinois' Prairielands Council; and Daisy/Brownie Troop 24 from Parks, Louisiana's Girl Scouts of Louisiana - Pines to the Gulf Council.

Also for the second year in a row, the GACR Scout Council National Recycling Champion was awarded to the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Council for recycling 27,403 pounds of aluminum.  The National Capital Area Council, representing units from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia metro area, distinguished itself as GACR Reserve National Recycling Council Champion by recycling more than 1,300 pounds.   National Champion and Reserve Champion honors, along with $500 and $300 cash, will be awarded to the top two recycling Scout Councils based on the number of pounds their units recycled. 

This year the Boy and Girl Scouts raised more than $18,000 for scouting activities and local charities of their choice. With a 33 percent increase in the number of registered councils from the first annual challenge, the amount of money raised for charity also increased.

"On behalf of CMI, I congratulate all of the participants and winners in this year's challenge," said CMI President Robert Budway. "Educating our youth about the benefits of recycling cans is a priority for our industry and the GACR Scout Council Challenge is a wonderful medium to spread this message.  Aluminum beverage cans have the highest recycling rate of any beverage package. We believe in the importance of teaching our younger generations about the endlessly recyclable characteristics of aluminum beverage cans."

Registration for the 2014 Great American Can Roundup Scout Council Challenge is now open.  Scout troops/units can register at http://wwww.cancentral.com/roundup/ruRegistration.cfm.

Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI)
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. Our members are committed to providing safe, nutritious and refreshing canned food and beverages to consumers. 

SOURCE Can Manufacturers Institute