“Cans for Pets” – an initiative encouraging individuals to aid shelter animals through responsible recycling – has reached the milestone of collecting 300,000 aluminum pet food cans in thanks to the support of pet lovers across the United States. 

The program, funded by the Alcoa Foundation and coordinated by the PA Resources Council, has offered a 5 cent donation to a local animal shelter for every aluminum pet food can recycled through the program. 

Since its launch in Pennsylvania in 2012, the pilot program has expanded to benefit animals at shelters in Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee and Texas and raised more than $15,000 to provide medical care, food and adoption support. 

By recycling aluminum, individuals supporting Cans for Pets have made it a win-win model, helping homeless animals while benefitting the environment.

“Thanks to the hands-on support of community members willing to collect and recycle their empty pet food cans, PRC has facilitated the recycling of more than 300,000 aluminum cans during the past 30 months,” according to PRC Western Regional Director Justin Stockdale.

“As this extremely successful pilot program draws to a close, we’re excited to see Cans for Pets become a sustainable effort, which was the primary goal from the beginning,” he said. 

“Many of our founding partners will continue to collect aluminum pet food cans to generate revenue through local recycling programs.  And it’s such an easy fundraiser to establish and manage that we expect the concept to catch on at many other animal shelters throughout the country in the months and years to come.”

Shelters participating in the Cans for Pet pilot program were Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Lancaster County SPCA in Lancaster, Pa.; Vanderburgh Humane Society in Evansville, Ind.; Warrick Humane Society in Newburgh, Ind.; Humane Society of Scott County in Davenport, Iowa; Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville, Tenn.; and San Antonio Humane Society in San Antonio, Texas.  Cans can be recycled at these locations.

Any animal shelter interested in joining the effort should contact PRC by sending email to: infowest@prc.org to receive instructions concerning how to become involved in aluminum pet food can recycling. 

For information and recycling locations, visit PRC’s Cans for Pets webpage or call PRC at 412-488-7490 x105.

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