Colorado State University Ranks in the Top 10 Nationally for Recycling

Colorado State University finished in the top 10 in the nation in the Grand Champion competition for RecycleMania, a 10-week recycling competition between colleges and universities across the nation.

CSU finished 10th with a cumulative recycling rate of just over 54 percent of the total waste generated on campus, up from 51 percent last year. CSU also finished 20th in the country in the Waste Minimization category.

"This year’s competition was fierce with more than 500 schools and universities competing," said Tonie Miyamoto, director of communication for Housing and Dining Services at Colorado State. "For CSU to remain in the top 10 is a great feat and demonstrates the university’s commitment to sustainability."

CSU finished first in the state among the five Colorado universities participating in the Grand Champion division of the competition. The Grand Champion category is based on the combined results of the greatest achievement in both source reduction and recycling. Other Colorado universities ranking in the top 100 include Colorado College at 22 and University of Colorado – Boulder at 77.

In CSU’s on-campus competition, Allison Hall won the hall competition recycling approximately 49 pounds per student during the 10 week competition. In the university apartment competition, University Village 1500 held onto the number one spot for another year recycling close to 54 pounds per student. The winning hall and apartment community will be presented with the traveling CSU RecycleMania trophies during tomorrow’s Earth Day celebration on campus.

RecycleMania is a 10-week recycling competition with more than 500 colleges and universities competing against each institution’s recycling program. All competing campuses collectively recycled 69.4 million pounds of waste over the 10 week competition. During the 10 weeks, CSU recycled 453,840 pounds of material.

Over a 10-week period, campuses compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. Through the course of the competition, 4.7 million students and 1.1 million faculty and staff participated.

The main goal of the event is to increase student awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization. All participating schools are required to report measurements on a weekly basis in pounds.

To learn more about CSU campus recycling and recyclable materials, visit www.facilities.colostate.edu.

To learn more about the RecycleMania competition, visit www.recyclemaniacs.org.

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