Wyoming's Riverton High School Alternative Program Wins Can Manufacturer Institute's Recycling Contest

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Riverton High School Alternative Program in Riverton, WY, won first place in the fourth annual Great American Can RoundUp (GACR) School Challenge by collecting nearly 7,000 pounds of aluminum cans. A mere 24 students collected a little more than 287 pounds per student to claim this year's top honors. In total, schools from 39 states recycled nearly 95,000 pounds of aluminum cans. 

Sponsored by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), more than 532,400 students competed to collect the most aluminum beverage cans from November 15, 2013, (America Recycles Day) through April 22, 2014 (Earth Day). As champion of this year's challenge, Riverton High School Alternative Program will receive $5,000, along with an additional $1,000 prize for coming in first place within their state. The school in each state with the most pounds of aluminum recycled per student receives a $1,000 prize for their accomplishments in recycling.

Dallas Myers, Director of Special Services and Alternative Program said, "Here at the Alternative Program, we don't believe in a throw-a-way society, everything matters - natural resources and most importantly people. Our students at the Alternative Program have been recycling for over 15 years, and it is nice to see the students get state and national recognition for all the hard work they have done this year. The community, our teachers, and most importantly our students have all worked very hard to bring this award, this accomplishment to our home, Riverton, Wyoming."

The 2012-2013 GACR School Challenge winner, Valley Elementary School in Cody, WY, received second place in this year's challenge recycling an impressive 271.50 pounds per student. For the first time since its inception in 2010, the GACR School Challenge had a record of 25 competing schools recycle more than 1,000 pounds of beverage cans. The challenge has grown from 250 schools representing more than 44,000 students in 2010 to more than 1,000 schools with more than half a million students.

CMI created the GACR to build awareness of the environmental benefits of recycling cans. At 50-cents-per-pound for the recycled cans, schools competing in the GACR School Challenge raised more than $47,000 for schools, local charities and special causes, in addition to the $56,000 in prize money offered by CMI.      

"The growth of school participation in this challenge over the past four years emphasizes the importance of the educating our younger generations about the benefits of using and recycling aluminum beverage cans," said CMI President Robert Budway. "The aluminum can is infinitely recyclable and has the highest recycling rate of any beverage package. It is important for our youth to be good environmental stewards through engagement in recycling aluminum beverage cans."

Registration for the 2014-2015 Great American Can Roundup School Challenge is currently open.  Schools can register at http://roundup.cancentral.com/ruRegistration.cfm.

More information about the can's sustainability attributes can be found at www.cancentral.com/sustainability.

2013- 2014 Great American Can Roundup School Winners by State

Alabama:  Holy Family Regional School, Huntsville
Arkansas:  Emerson High School FFA, Emerson
Arizona:  Sonoran Science Academy, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson
California:  Believe!  Manteca/Redwood High School Campus, Stockton
Colorado:  Bessemer Academy Primary Science Classes, Pueblo
Connecticut: Salisbury Central School, Lakeville
Delaware: Sussex Tech High School, Georgetown
Florida:  Palm Beach Maritime Academy, Lantana
Georgia:  Augusta Preparatory Middle School, Martinez
Hawaii:  Hanalei School, Hanalei
Idaho:  Skyway Elementary School 5^th Grade Classes, Coeur d'Alene
Illinois:  Our Lady of Victory Elementary School, Chicago
Indiana:  Seeger Middle School Recycle Club, Williamsport
Iowa:  Columbus Junior High School CATPAC Wrestling, Columbus Junction
Kansas:  Newton Bible Christian School, Newton
Louisiana: I.A. Lewis School, Ruston
Maryland:  Crellin Elementary School, Oakland
Massachusetts:  Lynch Elementary School, Winchester
Minnesota:  St. Johns – St. Andrews School Student Council, Melrose 
Missouri:  Saint George Catholic School, Hermann
Montana:  Fortine School, Fortine
Nebraska:  Christ Lutheran Elementary School, Columbus
New Hampshire:  Woodman Park School, Dover
New Jersey:  Weymouth Township School, Dorothy
New Mexico:  Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, Albuquerque
New York:  Saint Amelia School, Tonawanda
North Carolina:  Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, Rocky Mount
Ohio:  Wilcox Elementary School, North Ridgeville
Oklahoma:  Roosa Elementary, Claremore
Pennsylvania:  Conrad Weiser Middle School/NEED Environmental Camp, Robesonia
South Carolina:  Taylors Elementary School, Taylors
Tennessee:  Sacred Heart Elementary School, Loretto
Texas:  Fulton 4-5 Learning Center, Rockport
Vermont:  Champlain Elementary School, Burlington
Virginia:  Northern Neck Montessori School, Kilmarnock
Washington:  Lynden Christian High School, Lynden
West Virginia:  Sherrard Middle School, Wheeling
Wisconsin:  St. Paul Lutheran School, Bonduel
Wyoming:  Riverton High School Alternative Program, Riverton*

*GACR National Champion Recycling Champion

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. 

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Contact:
Sherrie Rosenblatt: E-mail: [email protected]
Jenny Day: E-mail: [email protected] 
Phone: 202-232-4677

SOURCE Can Manufacturers Institute