PPG Participates in Global Recycling Day Event to support recycling efforts of Pittsburgh school

PPG announced a sustainability collaboration on Global Recycling Day with a school in Pittsburgh. As part of the national “2 Million Cans Recycling Contest,” PPG is supporting students at Environmental Charter School (ECS) in collecting and recycling aluminum beverage cans. To date, ECS students have collected nearly 42,000 cans.

The day starts with a pep rally at ECS, where more than 100 second graders will join representatives from PPG, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), Recycling is Like Magic! and Mon-Valley Recycling Center. The event will feature educational presentations on aluminum can making and recycling, prize giveaways and special appearances by the Pittsburgh Penguins mascot Iceburgh and ECS mascot, Hero the Hawk.

“We are thrilled to support the second graders at ECS who have shown dedication to accomplishing their recycling goals,” said Melissa MacDonald, PPG customer sustainability business partner, Packaging Coatings. “Through these critical partnerships, we’re proud to inspire hands-on environmental action while promoting the infinite recyclability of aluminum.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins will also recognize the students and participating organizations at its “Penguins Pledge” sustainability game. The club has committed to donate all aluminum beverage cans and aluminum cups from the March 18 game to ECS to support its recycling goal.

“In 2023 the Penguins launched the Penguins Pledge program with the commitment to improve efforts of social, economic and environmental sustainability,” said Steve Kelley, Senior Vice President of Partnerships with the Pittsburgh Penguins. “We were glad PPG shared the 2 Million Cans initiative with us and gave us the opportunity to support, and we are looking forward to hosting the students at the Penguins Pledge game tonight.”

PPG’s Packaging Coatings business is actively involved in the 2 Million Cans Recycling Contest, a nationwide competition encouraging elementary students to collect aluminum cans for recycling. The initiative brings together elementary schools, scrapyards and aluminum can makers and suppliers to raise awareness about the circular economy of aluminum while providing schools with financial incentives and sustainability education. The campaign will continue through April 30, culminating in a May celebration event recognizing top-performing schools in the contest.

According to Recycling is like Magic!, only 26% of cans are recycled in Pennsylvania versus 43% in the U.S. overall. The contest was inspired by Jessica Alexanderson, president of Recycling is like Magic! and author of The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans. The contest progress is trackable online and across social media with the hashtag #2MillionCans.