Recycle Mania is a friendly competition among university recycling programs in the United States. Recycle Mania began in Ohio in 2001 between Ohio University and Miami University to increase recycling in residence halls and dining areas. Western Michigan University joined the competition in 2003.

The competition is a 10 week program to see which institution can collect the most recyclable material per student living in the residence halls and/or campus apartments. Materials collected for the competition include paper, cardboard, plastic and glass bottles, metal cans, metal caps and foil. The winner receives the traveling trophy for the year and a congratulatory advertisement in all the other schools' student newspapers.

In 2004, the Recycle Maniacs (17 schools that participated in the 2004 competition, including WMU) received the National Recycling Coalition's annual award for Outstanding Recycling Innovation Product or Process. The "innovation" was the utilization of the competitive spirit at Universities to encourage recycling and waste reduction.

Check here for the Recycle Mania page for 2004.