The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THE non-profit organisation Cans for Kids is announcing its first “Spring Bash Collection Competition”.

The competition starts February 21 and runs until May 28. Bahamian students and youth programmes will be rewarded for their efforts collecting aluminum cans for recycling.

Founded in 1998 by Ginny McKinney, Cans For Kids was created to assist in recycling aluminum cans. The net proceeds of the organisation are used to help finance children’s programmes in the Bahamas.

Ananda Pyfrom, Cans For Kids coordinator told Tribune Health that 28 schools in Nassau, public and private, have participated in the programme over the last two years, yet only a handful are currently active.

“There are also 12 schools on the Family Islands that have participated through the years. We want to remind people that the Cans for Kids recycling programme is still active. The top three schools that have collected aluminum cans are going to be rewarded in addition to the net proceeds of recycling going back to all participants,” said Ananda.

Ms Pyfrom said the Cans For Kids programme is most known in the Bahamas for its steadfast efforts to promote and educate the public about the long-term benefits of recycling, while maintaining the ability to raise funds for children while doing so. 

“We are putting into action our small part to reduce global environmental impacts. Through recycling, 90 per cent of the energy it takes to make an aluminum can from raw materials is saved,” said Ms Pyfrom.

“We are going to have a large and noticeable floating trophy made that will be given to the winner of the competition this year, and the years to follow,” she said.

For persons that want to become involved in the competition, Ms Pyfrom said all you have to do is locate the schools that are taking part in the aluminum can collection, and donate your cans to them.

“Bahamians can start collecting, if they haven’t already, every aluminum can they use, and give it to their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or friends to take to their participating schools. Any beer, juice, energy drink or soda can be contributed. Tin cans from cat food or canned goods do not qualify for recycling. The cans do not have to be rinsed, we just ask that they are free of debris,” said Ms Pyfrom.

Ms Pyfrom said this year, Cans For Kids will continue to provide the service of collection and densification of aluminum cans at no charge. She said schools, youth programmes and business places that participate in collection are never charged for pick up or containers that the organisation provides them.

“We rely heavily on our supporters: the Caribbean Bottling Company, Atlantis and our partners JBR and Tropical Shipping to make these recycling efforts a reality. The fact that we are able to keep the aluminum cans out of the landfill and sitting there for 80-200 years, keeps us going as well as the ability to give back to the community,” said Ms Pyfrom.

She said Cans For Kids will continue to look for opportunities to partner with the Ministry of Education, Environment, and most recently the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to help create a “Stan the Can” mascot.

“People can look for Cans For Kids to continue our efforts as well as create a place in the community’s memory. We estimate that our programme captures less than one percent  of cans produced in our community, and we are looking to increase that to ten percent,” said Ms Pyfrom.