Recycling drive nets 1.4 million cans

Over 12,000 students at 48 elementary schools participated in the state Department of Health’s (DOH) annual Recycling Challenge this year, and the haul included 1.4 million aluminum cans — or more than one can for every man, woman, and child in the islands. Now in its 20th year, the yearly contest encourages students to recycle year round, and awards cash and prizes like school supplies and pizza. On O`ahu, Pearl City Highlands Elementary took top honors in its category by collecting nearly 400 cans per student.

Among the largest Honolulu elementary schools, Pearl Ridge Elementary earned first place with 289 cans per student. At the small end, Messiah Lutheran led with 247 cans per student. On the neighbor islands, Kua O Ka La Public Charter School in Pahoa on the Big Island collected 865 cans per student, and St. Theresa School in Kekaha on Kaua`i collected 692 cans per student.

The challenge was a partnership between the DOH, Reynolds Recycling and Recycle Hawai`i. Domino’s Pizza and K-Mart provided some of the prizes.