The aluminium drink can recycling partnership kicked off in Arkansas and brings five circularity sites to four states with cash payouts for participants.
Our chapter, Every Can Counts U.S., in partnership with Replenysh, announced today the launch of a new community-driven recycling programme to increase recovery of aluminium drink cans.
The Cans for Cash programme, which launched in Blytheville, Arkansas, will soon add four more Circularity Centers in Florida, Illinois, and Mississippi. Cans for Cash targets communities near major waterways with limited or no recycling access. The initiative aims to boost recycling, reduce litter and landfill waste, and enhance local economies with direct cash payouts for participants who recycle empty aluminium drink cans.
“This is an impact-driven programme that will increase recycling and access points near major American waterways. This partnership will also make significant investments within local communities that lack curbside recycling,” said Scott Breen, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Can Manufacturers Institute, the association supporting the Every Can Counts U.S. chapter. “Our innovative model leverages the power of technology, community engagement, and the high market value of used aluminium beverage cans to drive impact, including direct payouts for the program’s participants.”
Globally, aluminum recycling is 95% less carbon intensive than primary aluminum production. In addition to empty aluminum beverage cans, community members can bring PET #1 plastic bottles for recycling, however, payment will only be provided for recycled aluminum. America Recycles Day as a way to demonstrate how aluminium drink cans help sustain the U.S. recycling system and promote the circular economy in action. Blytheville residents who drop off empty drink cans will receive payment from the Cans for Cash Circularity Center after being weighed on-site.
“The Cans for Cash programme is a self-sustaining recycling model and will help fund future recycling efforts. The city of Blytheville is honoured to work with Replenysh, and Every Can Counts U.S. on this critical circularity project,” said Blytheville Mayor Melisa Logan. “Activating our recycling potential, igniting a circular economy, and improving recycling behaviour has been a goal of our city for years. This partnership gives our city a strategy that we hope produces big recycling gains for every resident in our community. Our new Cans for Cash Circularity Center will increase consumer awareness and incentivize a recycling model that can be easily replicated in communities across America.”
Replenysh, the circularity platform that implemented the programme, will manage Blytheville’s ongoing technology and network operations and track the results of the Cans for Cash Circularity Center using an impact report.
“Many communities today are underserved by recycling and are looking for a solution they can trust. We are excited to be working with Every Can Counts U.S. as the circularity partner to provide much-needed recycling infrastructure to cities and their residents,” said Mark Armen, Founder and CEO at Replenysh. “The City of Blytheville can now leverage our tools and network to monetize materials and drive value to residents in a new way. As we expand these Cans for Cash Circularity Centers to additional states, we also will capture more high-quality feedstock for U.S. industry.”