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WMU Recycling Mania
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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 publicize and improve recycling and waste reduction on college campuses. The winner receives the traveling trophy for the year as well as a congratulatory advertisement in all 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.
Overall Goals1. Have a fair and friendly recycling competition.
2. Increase recycling participation by students and staff.
3. Heighten awareness of schools' waste management and recycling programs.
4. Expand economic opportunities while addressing environmental issues in a positive way.
5. Lower waste generated on-campus by reducing, reusing and recycling.
6. Organize this event successfully so it can be repeated and possibly expanded to other campuses in the future.
What are the Events?
There are a variety of different recycling competitions during Recycle Mania. Most schools enter some, but not all, of them.
Schools compete to see which can collect the largest amount of acceptable recyclables per person. This is the original RecycleMania competition.
Waste Minimization:Schools compete to see which produces the least amount of municipal solid waste (including both recyclables and trash) per person. This competition is intended to reward those schools that generate the least amount of waste and recyclables, emphasizing reuse and source reduction over recycling.
Targeted Materials:In addition to reporting the total amount of materials recycled, schools may compete in four categories of targeted materials, including bottles and cans, corrugated cardboard, food service organics, and paper.
Grand Champion:Schools that participate in both the Per Capita Classic and the Waste Minimization competitions are automatically eligible to become the Grand Champion of RecycleMania. The Grand Champion is the school that, based on their combined results, demonstrates the greatest achievement in both source reduction and recycling.
Gorilla Prize:Schools that participate in either the Per Capita Classic or the Waste Minimization competition are automatically eligible to win the Gorilla Prize. This award honors the school that recycles the greatest amount of recycling by weight is automatically eligible to win the Gorilla Prize. This award honors the school that recycles the highest gross tonnage of materials during the ten-week competition, regardless of campus population.
| YEAR | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Grand Champion (% recycled) | -- | -- | -- | N/A | 15.07% | 33.52% |
| Waste Minimization (lbs./person) | -- | -- | -- | N/A | 78.67 | 40.53 |
| Per Capita Classic (lbs./person) | 22.4 | 23.51 | 28.39 | N/A | 12.06 | 14.39 |
| Gorilla Prize (lbs.) | -- | -- | -- | N/A | 24,528 | 26,124 |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT THE OFFICIAL RECYCLEMANIA WEBSITE
