RecycleMania is about to start, and the University of North Florida (UNF) will be a contender.
RecycleMania is a friendly, national competition between colleges across the country to encourage recycling and reduce wasteful behaviors. The competition began in 2001 between the Miami University and Ohio University to see who could recycle the most. Other schools joined in over the years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wastewise program partnered with RecycleMania in 2004 and in 2011 a total of 630 colleges participated.
This year's program officially starts on Sunday, January 20 and lasts until March 31. UNF is registered in the Stephen K. Gaski Per Capita Category, where the total recycling weight is divided by the number of full-time equivalent students and staff at the school.
UNF's Environmental Center will also host an informal recycling competition between residence halls, with the winner receiving a free party.
In addition, the Environmental Center is collecting old tee shirts to create a RecycleMania banner. If you have an old tee shirt you wish to donate, bring it by the center by Monday, January 21.
The Environmental Center will host three kick-off parties at various locations on January 22, 29 and 31 complete with free food and recycling bins.
According to the U.S. EPA, last year's RecycleMania program resulted in a cumulative greenhouse gas reduction of 40 metric tons CO2 equivalent to 21 cars off the road or the energy usage of 11 households.
Volunteers are needed to deliver bins, put up flyers, and collect and weigh recycling. For more information, check the website.
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