Safety & Loss Prevention

Recycling (solid waste)

RecycleMania 2008

RecycleMania is a competition among college and university recycling programs.  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.   The main goal of this event is to increase student awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization. Participating schools report measurements on a weekly basis in pounds. This year 400 campuses in 46 states and the District of Columbia competed, including the ten Wisconsin campuses listed below:


College of Menominee Nation* 
Northland College* 
University of Wisconsin- Fox Valley 
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire* 
University of Wisconsin-Madison 
University of Wisconsin-Marinette 
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh* 
University of Wisconsin-River Falls* 
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point*
University of Wisconsin-Stout* 


The participating Wisconsin campuses ranged in size from the College of Menominee Nation, which has a student, faculty and staff population of 419 to UW-Madison with a campus population of 48,500.  The number of Wisconsin participants doubled from 2007 and it’s hoped the number will double again next year.

The Per Capita Classic top three finalists in Wisconsin, determined by total pounds of recyclables collected per person, are:

  • UW-Oshkosh (22.68 pounds)
  • UW-Madison (17.06 pounds)
  • UW-River Falls (12.18 pounds)

The Waste Minimization top three finalists, determined by the lowest overall amount of waste (recyclables and trash) generated per person, are:

  • UW-Stout (42.96 pounds)
  • UW-Madison (63.15 pounds)
  • Northland College (76.36 pounds)

The winner of Wisconsin’s Gorilla Prize, for the highest gross tonnage of recyclables was UW-Madison, which placed 7th in the nation.  UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout collected the next highest amounts during the ten-week competition.

  • UW-Madison (827,181 pounds)
  • UW-Oshkosh (241,731 pounds)
  • UW-Stout (94,831 pounds)

The Grand Champion award, which combines the results of the Per Capita Classic and the Waste Minimization competitions, was UW-Madison with a recycling rate of 27.01%.  Following close behind was UW-Stout with a 26.35% recycling rate.

RecycleMania is administered by the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), as a project of NRC‘s College and University Recycling Council (CURC). Support is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency‘s WasteWise program. The Coca-Cola Company is a major sponsor of RecycleMania.   To learn more about RecycleMania, visit www.recyclemaniacs.org

*These campuses are among the 14 Wisconsin campuses whose presidents or chancellors have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Participation in the Waste Minimization portion of RecycleMania is one of the steps contained in the Commitment related to the pursuit of climate neutrality.  www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org

 

Updated June 24, 2008

Page content maintained by Eileen Norby.

This publication was prepared for environmental, health and safety staff at University of Wisconsin System campuses, to assist in finding resources and information for regulatory compliance. It is not intended to render legal advice. (Click here to read full legal disclaimer.)