UW Completes National Recycling Competition

The University of Wyoming collected more than 130,000 pounds of recyclables during RecycleMania, a collegiate recycling competition managed by Keep America Beautiful.

During the eight-week competition, 350 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada reported the amount of recycling and trash collected each week. Participating schools recycled or composted 79.3 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials, preventing the release of 122,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere.

Overall, UW recycled nearly 28 percent of the waste it generated.

Schools competed to collect the largest combined amount of paper, cardboard, bottles and cans per person in the Per Capita Classic contest. UW recycled 9.32 pounds per person, which topped the efforts of the three other Mountain West Conference competitors. Colorado State University placed second with 9 pounds recycled per person; the University of Nevada-Las Vegas finished third with 7.90 pounds; and Boise State University was last in the conference with 6.41 pounds.

“Thanks to everyone in the UW community who participated and helped UW to remain No. 1 in the Mountain West Conference in the Per Capita Classic,” says Jim Goodman, UW recycling supervisor.

In the Waste Minimization category, schools competed to see who produced the least waste, including trash and recyclables. UW generated 33.66 pounds of waste per person, placing 32nd among 114 schools participating.

For more information about RecycleMania and to view this year’s results, go to http://recyclemaniacs.org/.

For the location of bins and other UW recycling information, visit www.uwyo.edu/sustainability/recycling.