NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 29, 2004   DPW Office of Recycling Gets Ready for America Recycles Day, November 15   District enters city recycling challenge, sponsors citywide events.   (Washington, DC)  To celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15, the District of Columbia is participating in the Cash for Cans Recycling Challenge, a nationwide contest created by the US Conference of Mayors and Alcan, a major manufacturer of aluminum cans. DC, and 55 other cities in the US and Guam, are taking this challenge in hopes of receiving a cash award for the most aluminum beverage cans recycled during the period of November 1st through 15th.  The cans are counted by weight and recorded at the municipal recycling facilities where they are processed. These numbers will determine the winner of the Challenge. To see a list of the other cities participating in the Challenge, visit the Municipal Waste Management Association website.   The Challenge is designed to increase general awareness of recycling. Recycling aluminum beverage cans and other recyclable materials saves landfill space and conserves natural resources, which improve the environment and help to contain escalating costs of garbage disposal.   Additionally, the DC Office of Recycling is sponsoring or participating in several other recycling events: October 13 - November 15 – School Recycling Program kick-offs at over a dozen District schools. October 31 – DC Recycling Guide insert in The Washington Post for District subscribers and mailed to District non-subscribers November 1 - 15 – Cans for Cash City Recycling Challenge November 15 – America Recycles Day Fair at the US Department of State November 20 – Environmental Education workshop for District Educators