The 2013 RecycleMania competition is back in action as college campuses compete for stewardship bragging rights over which institution can reduce, reuse and recycle the most waste. Over an eight-week period each spring, colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada report the amount of recycling collected each week.
RecycleMania began in February 2001 when two schools, Ohio University and Miami University, decided to do something to increase recycling in the residence and dining halls on their campuses. They went head to head to see which school could recycle the most, with Miami University winning that first challenge.
The competition has since grown to popular heights, and in 2012, the RecycleMania competition included 605 colleges, representing 49 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. More than 6.2 million students and faculty members participated, collectively recycling 94.4 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials.
The winner in the Food Service Organics category in 2012 was Bard College. Bard, a small private college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, is dedicated to reducing waste, and since 2005, it has reduced its waste by 30%. Last year, Bard won its category by collecting 31.27 pounds of foodservice organic waste per person.
RecycleMania at Bard College
Tiny Bard College in New York state has worked hard to climb the RecycleMania ladder — reducing its waste by 30% since 2005.