Students and faculty at Pearl River County Elementary are participating in an “Aluminum Cans for Animals” drive to help raise money for Pearl River County SPCA.

Organizer Tracy Stockstill said recycling bins have been placed in 10 locations across the campus for students and teachers to dispose of aluminum cans.

Stockstill said the drive encourages students to recycle and learn about the importance of protecting the environment. 

The bins were purchased through a grant from “Keep America Beautiful,” she said.

The school will be collecting cans until December and donate them to the SPCA as bags fill up, Stockstill said.

Pearl River County SPCA director Judy Wheaton said the shelter has been recycling aluminum cans for the past 15 years as a way to assist with funding needs.

A trailer is stationed outside the shelter so individuals can donate their aluminum cans to that cause.

One year, the shelter raised more than $10,000 by recycling cans, but the price of metals varies from year to year, she said.

The money raised by recycling helps cover the cost to operate the shelter, such as electric bills, staff salary, water bills and the animal’s food and medicine, Wheaton said.

She said recycling cans provides for about 10 percent of the shelter’s operation expenses.

Cans can be dropped off at Pearl River County Elementary or at the PRC SPCA.