Paints and coatings leader PPG has kicked off its second year in the national Million Cans Recycling Contest, teaming up with more than 100 second-grade students at Environmental Charter School (ECS) in Pittsburgh to collect and recycle aluminum beverage cans.
So far this school year, ECS students have already collected over 30,000 cans.
The contest, a nationwide competition among 54 schools, encourages elementary students to recycle aluminum while teaching them about the circular economy.
Organized by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and The Recycling Society, the initiative connects schools, scrapyards, and aluminum suppliers, offering both financial incentives and sustainability education. The campaign runs through April 30, with a May celebration recognizing top-performing schools.
“At PPG, our mission to protect and beautify the world includes recycling and there’s no better time to celebrate that work than Global Recycling Day,” said Meghan Barrera, PPG director of global strategic marketing, Packaging Coatings.
“Aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable, making them a sustainable packaging solution. Together with our local and industry partners, we’re proud to play a role in helping children build lifelong recycling habits while contributing to a nationwide sustainability effort that needs attention in the U.S.”
Recycling in Pennsylvania lags behind the national average. The state recycles just 25% of its aluminum beverage cans, compared with 43% across the U.S., ranking 18th nationwide. Globally, the gap is even wider: Europe recently reported a 76.3% recycling rate.
Ahead of Global Recycling Day, PPG joined forces with the Pittsburgh Penguins, CMI, The Recycling Society, and Michael Brothers Companies for a pep rally at ECS. Students enjoyed educational presentations, prize giveaways, and visits from Penguins mascot Iceburgh and ECS mascot Hero the Hawk. During the Penguins’ “Penguins Pledge” sustainability game, over 2,000 cans were collected to add to ECS’s contest total.
PPG’s partnership has already shown results. During the 2024–25 school year, ECS second graders collected 87,535 aluminum cans, earning the school a top-10 finish among 18 schools across 12 states.
