HOLLY SPRINGS — Holly Springs Elementary School was declared the Georgia winner in a national recycling contest sponsored by the can industry and was awarded a $1,000 prize.

The local elementary school recycled a total of 793,229 cans or 23,106 pounds, the most cans in the nation and the most cans per capita of any participating school in Georgia.

The $856.80 in earned recycling proceeds, along with the $1,000 prize money, will be used for educational purposes.

“This was a hard-won contest, and I couldn’t be prouder of our students and teachers,” said Dr. Dianne Steinbeck, school principal. “Through this competition, they raised awareness of the importance of recycling and at the same time raised a lot of money that will help support important activities here at Holly Springs Elementary School.”

“I congratulate the students and the community partners for their impressive showing and setting such a strong example of the importance — and value — of recycling used cans,” said Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute, the trade association representing can makers and their suppliers.

CMI sponsored the contest, the Great American Can Roundup — School Challenge, which drew the participation of 790 schools from 50 states.

Collectively, the schools recycled more than 131,183 pounds (4.5 million) aluminum beverage cans, which generated more than $100,591 in recycling proceeds.

CMI awarded $1,000 to the top recycling school in each state and an additional $5,000 to the national recycling champion. Schools were judged on a per capita basis, comparing the number of cans recycled to the number of students participating.

The contest period was Nov. 15 or America Recycles Day to April 22, this year’s Earth Day.