Suffolk is proving it’s worth its weight as a recycling community — not in gold, but in aluminum cans.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, the Suffolk Clean Community Commission will sponsor aluminum can recycling drives at Bennett’s Creek Park and the Public Works Operations Complex, 866 Carolina Road, to collect aluminum cans for the Cans for Cash Recycling Challenge.

“We really want to resonate the importance of recycling for citizens in Suffolk,” said Hattie Lester, Suffolk litter control coordinator. “This is a fun and easy way to do that. You rid the landfill of waste, save space and energy, reduce pollution and save natural resources.”

The Cans for Cash Recycling Challenge is a national competition between cities to see which can collect the most recyclable aluminum beverage cans during October.

The contest is sponsored by The United States Conference of Mayors, Novelis Corporation and Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

Up to $15,000 in awards are at stake for competitors.

One $5,000 award will be presented to the city collecting the most total tons of recyclable aluminum cans per capita, another $5,000 award for the city with the most innovative ideas for promoting recycling and another $5,000 award to the city submitting the best recycling video in the American Recycler Video award category.

If Suffolk wins, the funds will be used to support the Clean Community Commission’s new battery recycling program.

So far, a 14-yard container at a drop off point is three-quarters full.

Students at Southwestern Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle, Nansemond River High and Robertson Elementary schools have dropped off a combined total of 400 cans.

Administrators are hoping this weekend’s special drop-off times will help thrust the city’s efforts to the top before the Oct. 29 deadline.

If you can’t make it Saturday, bring cans to the Public Works Sanitation Complex, 277 Pine St., or the Public Works Operations Complex, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lester is encouraging everyone, including civic leagues, churches, and homeowner associations, to become part of the final push.