Rexam hosts "Cans for Cash" recycling event to help the environment and raise money for local charities

As one of the leading global beverage can makers, Rexam is committed to supporting recycling in its local communities.

To that end, the Rexam Chicago office recently hosted its third annual “Cans for Cash” recycling event to promote recycling and raise money for charity. Rexam partnered with United Scrap Metal, a local recycler, and was supported by other key partners including Novelis, Tri-Arrows Aluminum Inc. and Wise Alloys.

More than 3,200 pounds of aluminum cans, twice as many as last year, were collected at the weekend event which also raised approximately $2,000 for local charities. Last year, the charity total reached about $1,000.

Aluminum cans are the most valuable package to recycle, as American consumers earn more than $1 billion annually in recycling proceeds. And they are infinitely recyclable because aluminum is a permanent resource, with cans able to be recycled, smelted to can sheet, converted to cans again and back on retail shelves within 60 days. These facts combine to make cans the most recycled beverage container in the world, with a U.S. recycling rate of 65.1 percent, more than double the rate of other beverage packages.

“We’re proud to team with our supply partners and local charities to set a positive example in our local communities,” said Rich Grimley, president and CEO, Rexam Beverage Can North America. “Events like these also help us support our customers in demonstrating that the beverage can is an exceptional environmental and sustainability packaging option in the beverage industry.”