Overview

RecycleMania is a:RecycleMania is a:

►National collegiate recycling competitionNational collegiate recycling competition►Web-based ranking & benchmarking systemWeb-based ranking & benchmarking system►Recycling promotional framework for Recycling promotional framework for

collegescolleges►Tool for colleges to improve recycling Tool for colleges to improve recycling

programprogram►Project of College and University Recycling Project of College and University Recycling

Council (CURC) Council (CURC)

Competition

– Ten weeks: mid-January through late-March Colleges track and report weights to online form Rankings updated & published weekly

– Eight competition categories Overall diversion rate Total per capita recycling Total overall recycling Lowest overall waste generation Targeted materials on per capita basis

– Paper – Cardboard– Beverage containers– Food waste

Goals of RecycleMania• Fair and friendly competition• Increase awareness of waste reduction

programs• Reduce overall waste generation on-campus • Be a catalyst for schools to establish &

expand recycling programs• Encourage professional measurement

standards & benchmarking

Participation Growth

2001: 2 schools2002: 4 schools2003: 8 schools2004: 17 schools2005: 43 schools2006: 93 schools2007: 201 schools2008: 400 schools2009: 510 schools

2011 National Results

• 630 colleges and universities • Participating colleges in 49

states and Canada

• 91 million pounds of recyclables and organics

• Prevented the release of 127,553 metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE).

2011 Virginia Tech Results

• Bottles and Cans: 42,740 • Paper: 121,000• Cardboard: 123,920• Food waste: 159660• Trash: 1,117,210

RecycleMania 2012

Goal: Help Virginia Tech increase recycling 10%!!

Support RecycleMania!

• Plan a spring cleaning paper purge! • Coordinate a Green Office Day• Make an announcement about the event at

your staff meeting

For supporting information visit the VT Recycles website at http://www.facilities.vt.edu/sustainability/recycle/