Alcoa Recycling

The “Wedding Can” Couple Provides A Model for Fund-Raising

There’s a lot we can learn from Peter Geyer and Andrea Parrish, the Spokane, Washington couple that successfully collected 400,000 aluminum cans to pay for their wedding.  (Click here to read the latest news from The Spokesman-Review about their achievement.)

Greg Wittbecker, the director of recycling at Alcoa, says that Peter and Andrea’s recycling campaign should serve as a model to others about how to use recycling to raise money. 

“This has been a great story on how recycling aluminum cans not only protects the environment, but can be a financial incentive for anyone trying to raise some additional funds – whether you’re a Boy Scout troop, an athletic organization or you’ve just gotten engaged," Wittbecker says. 

Recycling aluminum cans is an ideal way to raise money.  Aluminum is the most valuable material in the recycling chain and Americans already recycle more aluminum cans than any other material.  

That’s one reason why Peter and Andrea plan to continue collecting aluminum cans to help pay for their honeymoon and do some good in the community.  They plan to donate 60% of all recycling proceeds to two charities: Doctors Without Borders and Rim Country Land Institute. 

To learn more about how you can recycle in your own community, go to www.alcoarecycling.com.

Update: “Wedding Can” Couple Reaches Goal of Recycling 400,000 Aluminum Cans

When we introduced you to Peter Geyer and Andrea Parrish earlier this year, the newly engaged couple from Spokane, Washington had just embarked on an ambitious goal – to collect and recycle 400,000 aluminum cans to pay for their upcoming wedding.    

Well, they did it.  

Peter and Andrea successfully reached their goal this week, collecting 400,000 aluminum cans worth about $3,800.  United Recycling Services will pick up the last batch of aluminum cans – about 73,000 in all – at the couple’s home on June 24.

The recycling campaign provided a perfect opportunity for Peter and Andrea to protect the environment and raise money to hold the wedding of their dreams.  Their inspiring idea attracted national attention and people from across the country, including Alcoa, donated cans to help them reach their goal.  

Alcoa donated 150,000 aluminum cans toward Peter and Andrea’s cause in January to help push them over the halfway point.  

"Alcoa's contribution put us past the halfway mark at the time, and we were just blown away," Andrea said. "Since then, people around the world have lent a hand and we've met our goal sooner than we had expected. We are so excited about our wedding in July!"

Learn more about Peter and Andrea’s recycling efforts at www.weddingcans.com.

Miss Navajo Encourages Navajo Nation To Go Green

 The Navajo Nation is going green.

With the support of Miss Navajo, the Navajo Nation launched a new recycling initiative during the first annual Treaty Day Celebration in Window Rock, Arizona.  

Alcoa donated cardboard and plastic recycling bins to help event organizers collect aluminum cans and other recyclable materials during the six-day event.  

The celebration attracted 50,000 people to Window Rock.  A group of volunteers from 180 Youth helped collect trash and aluminum cans for recycling.  The money raised by recycling aluminum cans was donated to 180 Youth for its efforts in helping Navajo Nation go green.

“There were several vendors who complimented our team saying how clean everything was,” said Art Moore, sanitation coordinator. “Never before had they seen fairgrounds so clean.”

Moore was pleased with the success of the recycling effort and hopes to continue educating people about the importance of recycling.

Wittbecker to deliver keynote address at Recycle Florida Today conference

When Florida’s recycling leaders gather at the Recycle Florida Today conference in Orlando Monday, they will hear about the successful recycling efforts of America’s largest aluminum company.  Greg Wittbecker, director of Alcoa recycling, will deliver the keynote address.

Wittbecker will discuss the growing market for recycled aluminum – driven in large part by consumer demand for recycled products – and the unique traits that make aluminum the most profitable material in the recycling marketplace.  

Unlike other packaging materials, the aluminum can is infinitely recyclable and can go from the recycling bin back to the store shelf in less than 60 days.

Alcoa has launched a campaign to increase the U.S. recycling rate of aluminum cans to 75% by 2015.  If everyone recycles one additional aluminum can each week, we can hit that target, Wittbecker says.  

The Recycle Florida Today conference provides a forum for public, private and non-profit recyclers to discuss recycling issues and challenges.  To learn more, visit www.recyclefloridatoday.org.

Celebrate World Environment Day on Saturday, June 5

Environmental leaders will gather in Pittsburgh this weekend to celebrate World Environment Day, a United Nations event started 37 years ago to spur positive, environmental actions around the world.   

It is fitting that many of this year’s activities will take place in Pittsburgh, the place where Alcoa’s infinitely recyclable aluminum can was born.  Recycling aluminum cans and other materials is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can help protect our environment.  

Click here to send a special e-card that celebrates World Environment Day and the impact of recycling.

Click here to learn more about this year's World Environment Day activities and how the Alcoa Foundation is supporting sustainable water management.

Recycle Guys reach out to NC school children

It’s never too early to start educating children about the importance of recycling. And what better way to get kids attention than with a playful cast of characters like the Recycle Guys.

The Recycle Guys are helping spread the world about recycling to elementary and middle school students in North Carolina through coloring books, activities and games.  Alcoa is a proud sponsor of the Recycle Guys campaign.

Click here to download the Recycle Guys coloring book, watch videos on YouTube or become a fan of the Recycle Guys on Facebook.

The Recycle Guys campaign is one of three social media programs from the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance.