Constellium Supports 2 Million Cans Recycling Contest
Community Initiatives
Sustainability Engagement
Constellium partnered with schools near its Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Ravenswood, West Virginia plants to join a recycling movement to collect empty aluminum beverage cans as part of the 2 Million Cans Recycling Contest. Third grade students at L.E. Willson and Fairplain elementary schools competed with schools in 12 states across the U.S. on a quest to keep aluminum cans out of landfills and ensure they are recycled into new cans. Now in its second year, the contest was an exciting partnership with Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and Recycling Is Like Magic! The competition, which ran October 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025, aims to inspire environmental awareness, hands-on learning, teamwork, and community engagement with young learners.
The contest culminated at the end of April, with students surpassing last year's total by collecting more than 1.6 million cans. Fairplain Elementary in Ripley, West Virginia earning first place by collecting a total of 155,540 or 8,186 cans per student. The school will be awarded $3,000 for achieving first place plus an extra $500 for recycling more than 150,000 cans. These funds are being used to pay for a much-needed new playground for the students at Fairplain. With around $5,500 earned from the competition, the school has ordered the playground equipment and it will be ready for use next school year.
Constellium Ravenswood Vice President of Operations, Brian McCallie, visited Fairplain to celebrate their big win. “This is a very exciting and proud achievement – for Fairplain Elementary, Constellium Ravenswood and our community,” he stated. “We worked together, saved up our cans, pestered friends, neighbors and family for their cans, and really showed what we’re capable of!"
Brian and Buddy Stemple, President of the Muscle Shoals plant, had a friendly wager on the contest to motivate their teams. If Muscle Shoals' partner school won, Brian would sent West Virginia pepperoni rolls to Buddy's team. But if Fairplain won, Buddy would send Conecuh sausages, a local favorite made in Evergreen, Alabama, to Ravenswood. Brian and the team look forward to receiving their prize!
Congratulations to the students of Fairplain, as well as LE Willson, and thank you to the employees and communities that supported this exciting contest!
- Follow the national competition
- Revisit last year’s 1 Million Cans Recycling Contest
- Download the Press Release
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