Spring Break
Eastern ranked high in recycling contest
Kara Sanford/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: News
In the national RecycleMania Waste Minimization competition, Eastern is ranked 35 of 295 schools competing in the contest.
RecycleMania is a competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities.
During the 10-week-long competition, schools report recycling and trash data for four divisions - the Grand Champion, Per Capita Classic, Waste Minimization and Gorilla Prize.
In the Waste Minimization division, schools compete to produce the least amount of solid waste of recyclables and trash per person.
Washtenaw Community College, in Ann Arbor, Mich., is ranked No. 1 with 7.33 pounds per person. Eastern had 27.47 pounds per person.
In the Per Capita Classic division, schools compete to see which can collect the largest amount of acceptable recyclables per person.
Eastern is ranked 203 out of 293 schools with 6.19 pounds per person. McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, LA., is ranked number one with 67.03 pounds per person.
Schools participating in the Per Capita Classic and Waste Minimization divisions qualify for the Grand Champion division, which is based on the combined results.
Out of 204 schools, Eastern is ranked 123 with a cumulative recycling rate of 22.54 percent.
California State University-San Marcos is first with a 77.84 percent cumulative recycling rate.
In the Gorilla Prize division, schools compete to see which can collect the highest cumulative pounds of recyclables, regardless of campus population.
Eastern is ranked 120 with 82,251 pounds. Ranked first is Rutgers University with 1,841,268 pounds.
The RecycleMania contest began on Jan. 18. Final results from all schools will be in by April 8.
This is not the only reason to recycle on campus, said Alan Rathe, Eastern's recycling coordinator.
Recycling saves the school money and is also part of a st ate mandate.
Rathe said Eastern saved $33,000 last school year and has saved $15,000 so far this year.
Eastern's recycling program was established in 1992 to meet a state mandate that requires all Illinois universities to reduce their waste stream by 40 percent.
The states would like to see every university recycle to help reserve natural resources and commodities.
Rathe said three major commodities in high demand but little supply are paper, plastic and cardboard.
Rathe said if everyone does not recycle, then this generation or the next will suffer the consequences.
Kara Sanford can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
RecycleMania is a competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities.
During the 10-week-long competition, schools report recycling and trash data for four divisions - the Grand Champion, Per Capita Classic, Waste Minimization and Gorilla Prize.
In the Waste Minimization division, schools compete to produce the least amount of solid waste of recyclables and trash per person.
Washtenaw Community College, in Ann Arbor, Mich., is ranked No. 1 with 7.33 pounds per person. Eastern had 27.47 pounds per person.
In the Per Capita Classic division, schools compete to see which can collect the largest amount of acceptable recyclables per person.
Eastern is ranked 203 out of 293 schools with 6.19 pounds per person. McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, LA., is ranked number one with 67.03 pounds per person.
Schools participating in the Per Capita Classic and Waste Minimization divisions qualify for the Grand Champion division, which is based on the combined results.
Out of 204 schools, Eastern is ranked 123 with a cumulative recycling rate of 22.54 percent.
California State University-San Marcos is first with a 77.84 percent cumulative recycling rate.
In the Gorilla Prize division, schools compete to see which can collect the highest cumulative pounds of recyclables, regardless of campus population.
Eastern is ranked 120 with 82,251 pounds. Ranked first is Rutgers University with 1,841,268 pounds.
The RecycleMania contest began on Jan. 18. Final results from all schools will be in by April 8.
This is not the only reason to recycle on campus, said Alan Rathe, Eastern's recycling coordinator.
Recycling saves the school money and is also part of a st ate mandate.
Rathe said Eastern saved $33,000 last school year and has saved $15,000 so far this year.
Eastern's recycling program was established in 1992 to meet a state mandate that requires all Illinois universities to reduce their waste stream by 40 percent.
The states would like to see every university recycle to help reserve natural resources and commodities.
Rathe said three major commodities in high demand but little supply are paper, plastic and cardboard.
Rathe said if everyone does not recycle, then this generation or the next will suffer the consequences.
Kara Sanford can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
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