More than 600 schools competing in RecycleMania

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University is participating in RecycleMania 2012, a nationwide recycling competition among more than 600 colleges and universities. The eight-week competition runs through March 31, with the goal of increasing awareness of and participation in campus recycling and waste reduction programs.

RecycleMania began in 2001 as a competition between Miami and Ohio universities to improve recycling in their residence and dining halls. When WMU residence halls joined the competition in 2003, there were just eight participating schools. Since then, it has grown to 605 schools participating this year in several different competitions.

What you can do!

• Use mugs or other reusable drink containers.
• Use reusable bags and storage containers.
• Use online services and don't print unless necessary.
• Use less paper—make electronic notes, lists, appointments.
• Recycle paper, bottles, cans, caps and aluminum foil—items counted for RecycleMania. WMU also recycles styrofoam, inkjet and laser toner cartridges, plastic bags, batteries, cell phones, fluorescent bulbs, tyvek, electronics and electronic media and scrap metal.

Last year, WMU ranked 196th out of 363 schools competing to measure pounds recycled per person with 9.31 pounds recycled per person.

Fifteen Michigan schools are competing this year including Kalamazoo College, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and WMU.

WMU is participating in several categories: Grand Champion, which is the percent of all waste produced that is recycled; Stephen K. Gaski Per Capita Classic, the amount of recyclables produced per person; and Waste Minimization, the amount of total waste including recycled and trash produced per person.

For more information contact Carolyn Noack, manager of Solid Waste Reduction at WMU, at @emailvisit recyclemaniacs.org to track weekly and overall results.