Recyclemania
From Crowdsourcing
Summary: Information on Recyclemania. Include information about event and part performances.
Avoid sales pitches.
Word target: 650 words
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Major contributions by: Ian Mikutel & Dan Lampie, creators of Greenly.tv
Contents |
RecycleMania
This Sunday, February 1, campuses across the United States will begin a 10-week-long recycling competition called RecyleMania. Last year RIT placed 13th overall and was ranked #1 in all the categories except waste minimization for New York State. The initiative has been a valuable tool for Facilities Management Services (FMS) to better evaluate RIT's resource use and disposal. Most importantly, although RIT has an excellent recycling program, the university needs to generate less waste overall.
How RecycleMania Works
Over a 10-week period, schools across the nation report recycling and trash data, ranked in the following ways:
- Largest amount of recyclables per capita
- Largest amount of total recyclables
- Least amount of trash per capita
- Highest recycling rate
Participating schools then watch how their results rank against other schools as each week’s numbers are reported. The hope is such competition motivates campus communities to reduce and recycle more.
RecycleMania Sees Rapid Growth
RecycleMania began in February 2001, when recycling coordinators Ed Newman of Ohio University and Stacy Edmonds Wheeler of Miami University in Ohio, saw that, despite award-winning and nationally recognized recycling efforts, residence halls were producing 70% of campus trash. Waste audits showed that half of such trash could be recycled, and current recycling rates were a disappointing 5% to 12%.
After trying many initiatives — such as orientation programs, move-in promotionals and the placement of recycling bins in dorms — it was quickly realized that motivating students to recycle was going to take something more. Noticing the sports rivalry between the two schools, the idea of a recycling rivalry was conceived and RecycleMania was born.
Since 2001, RecycleMania has seen exponential growth, effectively doubling school participation annually.
RIT SEAL Involvement
Student Environmental Action League (SEAL) will again be running and compiling all the data for RecyleMania. SEAL will be in the SAU all next week with interesting displays and information about recycling. Last year’s results showed that a huge amount of recyclable goods were carelessly thrown in the trash. This year SEAL is hoping to improve on last year’s success but needs everyone around campus to do their part by recycling as much as they can.
How You Can Help
Track RIT's progress as results begin to come in at recyclemania.org. Remember to only take out food when absolutely necessary, since the extra packaging waste is unneeded. Get your hands on a classy metal cup for drinking water, coffee, or tea instead of using a disposable one. Recycle everything you can from paper and cardboard to plastic, aluminum, glass, light bulbs and batteries. Most importantly, tell all your friends about RecyleMania, since many colleges in New York are trying to bump RIT from the top.
This magazine can even be recycled in any of the blue paper bins on campus when you're done with it. Better yet, read Reporter online at ReporterMag.com. Use less, and recycle more!
