Sidney to take part in can recycling challenge

The City of Sidney will join the nation this year in competing in the Cans for Cash City Recycling Challenge this April, according to a press release this Tuesday from Cheryl Jones, Director of Keep Sidney Beautiful.

Jones said that the challenge entails recycling the most aluminum beverage cans and the top cities in the nation are rewarded for their efforts.

The event will take place April 1 through April 30 and the winners will be announced in June of this year.

To participate in the citywide campaign, drop off any aluminum cans at the U.S. Recycling Company, the City of Sidney Recycling Center, or the Keep Sidney Beautiful (KSB) offices located at 740 Illinois St.

Aluminum cans will also be collected every Friday afternoon from each of the Sidney Public Schools.

“If you are not able to drop off your cans, please call the KSB Offices for arrangements for them to be picked up,” said Jones.

A $25,000 reward will be given to the winning city in each of the two categories of the Cans for Cash Challenge. Second place winners will receive $15,000 and third place winners earn $5,000 for their recycling efforts.

“Nearly $100,000 in prizes will be awarded to municipalities for recycling initiatives,” said Jones.

The director said that this challenge is something that could really benefit the City of Sidney.

“The Cans for Cash City Recycling Challenge helps us build a green, sustainable community and increase our citizens’ awareness of recycling,” said Jones.

Last year’s first place winners were Milwaukee, Wisconsin for “Most Cans Collected” and Pembroke Pines, Florida for “Most Innovative Campaign.”

The challenge is sponsored by The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Novelis.

According to USCM officials, the group is a non-partisan organization consisting of mayors from 1,296 cities in the country, each with a population that exceeds 30,000 citizens.

Novelis is known as “the global leader in rolled aluminum products and aluminum can recycling,” according to Cans for Cash Challenge officials.

Winners for the “Most Cans Collected” category are determined by the ratio of total number of recycled cans and city population. For the “Most Innovative Ideas Award” this year, winners will be determined by the cities recycling efforts.

“Cities must submit an application form detailing their efforts and are encouraged to include sample materials created such as posters, e-mails, web pages…etc.,” said challenge officials.

For more information on the Cans for Cash City Recycling Challenge Sidney residents can visit http://www.cans4cash.com or http://www.keepsidneybeautiful.org.