The 2018 RecycleMania competition is underway from now through March 31 with University events planned to engage students and staff alike! The University of Rochester has participated in RecycleMania for over a decade along with hundreds of colleges from all over the United States and Canada.
RecycleMania is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Each participating school agrees to track and self-report data on recycling activity and takes measures to improve recycling rates. There are three main categories of competition: Diversion, Stephen K Gaski Per Capita Classic, and Food Organics. Each year the competition tests new optional categories as well. The main goal of RecycleMania is to encourage students, staff, and employees to reduce waste and increase recycling and other sustainable practices. The competition’s international kick-off date is February 4th and it ends on March 31st with results announced in mid-April.
With the onset of the new semester, a promotional campaign is being led by Facilities Team Green and other students to generate enthusiasm for the competition. This year’s RecycleMania events are being organized for the second year in a row by Facilities Team Green intern Emma Briggs (class of 2018). Emma has planned many events to engage students, faculty and staff in the competition such as a kick-off event, an “I Love the Earth” photo campaign and screening of the documentary “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.” Click here to see the full event schedule; all events are open to all University members.
The Green Reps program is also encouraging University employees to get involved! Green Reps are University employees who champion sustainability, promote green initiatives, and support eco-conscious change within their departments. In addition to practicing the three R’s—reduce, reuse, recycle, here are some things that can be done to promote the competition at a departmental level:
- Take the Go Green Pledge and encourage others to do so.
- Catch the other members of your office “Green Handed” or take their Mug Shot.
- Host your own Regames! Take the opportunity to share green practices in the office.
- Check out RecycleMania’s website for more activity ideas.
Follow UR Sustainable on Facebook for updates, pictures, a weekly trivia contest, and more. Check the RecycleMania webpage for weekly results to see the University’s ranking.
Written by Mariah Greico, Class of 2018