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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             September 13, 2010   'CANS FOR CASH' COMPETITION SET FOR OCTOBER   (Monday, September 13, 2010) – Acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced that Honolulu will participate in the national "Cans for Cash" competition to recycle the most aluminum beverage containers during the month of October.            "I encourage all local schools and nonprofit groups to take advantage of this great opportunity to earn cash through recycling," Caldwell said.            Each of the four cities that collect the most aluminum beverage cans in October will win $5,000.  If Honolulu places in the top four, the prize money would be distributed evenly to the top five local schools or nonprofit organizations.  The national competition is for aluminum cans only; however, to push Honolulu's recycling rate, the local challenge will incorporate all HI-5 beverage containers (i.e. glass, aluminum, plastic).            Schools and organizations may enter and provide collection data by submitting receipts from redemption centers directly to the City's recycling branch; making arrangements for redemption centers to submit to the City on their behalf; or using the City's HI-5 event bins, which will be tracked by the recycling branch.            "If your school or organization is thinking about raising funds through recycling, October is a great month to hold a HI-5 collection event," Caldwell added.            The competition is sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Novelis Corporation and Keep America Beautiful, Inc.  For more information on the competition, go to www.opala.org or call 768-3200.             -30-     Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454