MI2 Advances Statewide Recycling Through Partnership with the Recycling Society

Strong recycling systems are essential to the long-term competitiveness of Kentucky’s metals industry; supporting reliable feedstock, environmental stewardship, and community trust. As a valued member of Kentucky’s metals ecosystem, manufacturers understand that recycling is not just an environmental priority, but a strategic one. That belief is at the core of MI2's mission and its growing investment in statewide recycling solutions.

MI2 is proud to be actively engaged with the Recycling Society, a national nonprofit dedicated to building lifelong recycling habits through education and hands-on participation. The Recycling Society’s flagship program, the Million Cans Recycling Contest, challenges elementary schools across the country to collect and recycle aluminum cans while teaching students about sustainability, circular manufacturing, and the real economic value of recycled materials.

By supporting this initiative, MI2 is helping connect Kentucky schools, recyclers, and manufacturers to a proven, high-impact model that increases aluminum recycling rates while strengthening awareness of the metals supply chain. The program not only keeps valuable material out of landfills, but also introduces students and families to the idea that recycling directly supports American manufacturing and local economies.

This partnership aligns directly with MI2’s Recycling Co-Investment Strategy, a coordinated effort to significantly increase Kentucky’s recycling rates through two complementary programs: school-based collection and business or venue-based collection. These initiatives are designed to be visible, educational, and simple for manufacturers to support, with MI2 coordinating infrastructure, engagement templates, logistics guidance, and scalable implementation.

Through collaboration with partners like the Recycling Society and the Can Manufacturers Institute, MI2 is creating opportunities for manufacturers to sponsor local schools or community venues and help build sustainable, closed-loop collection systems. These efforts strengthen feedstock reliability, support local education, and demonstrate industry leadership in a way that communities can see and feel.

Together, these partnerships position Kentucky to lead in responsible recycling, workforce awareness, and sustainable metals manufacturing; ensuring the state’s metals ecosystem remains competitive, trusted, and future-ready. Learn more on the Recycling Society's website.

If you are interested in becoming involved with this initiative, please reach out to MI2's Member Engagement Manager, Jerilyn Bristow, at Jerilyn.bristow@mi2ky.org.

‍