Colorado State University Finishes Sixth Overall in National Recycling Competition

Colorado State University finished sixth overall and fourth among peer schools in a national competition measuring recycling efforts at home football games during the 2012 season.

CSU’s Department of Facilities Management, Department of Athletics and the College of Agricultural Sciences worked together to promote and track recycling efforts at the Sept. 22 Ag Day game against Utah State at Hughes Stadium. CSU diverted 82.3 percent of the accumulated waste toward recycling.

This is the second consecutive year CSU has participated in the challenge, which is sponsored by the College and University Recycling Coalition and Keep America Beautiful. The Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise program supports the contest. CSU finished 29th in 2011.

“We are very pleased with the results of this year’s competition,” said Sheela Backen, manager of CSU’s Integrated Solid Waste Program. “Colorado State is very committed to recycling, and we hope to do even better in next year’s competition.”

CSU was one of 40 schools from the Football Bowl Subdivision participating in the contest, which included 67 total schools. Ohio State University was the overall winner in diversion rate.

The Gameday Challenge is part of an ongoing effort by CSU to promote recycling on campus. The annual RecycleMania competition, which begins Feb. 3, includes more than 600 colleges and universities across the country. CSU placed 16th in RecycleMania last year.

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