Get geared up for RecycleMania: Battle of the Buildings!
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| This logo was retrieved here. |
RecycleMania 2015 is a 10-week, nationwide waste reduction and recycling competition that begins on January 18th and ends March 28th. Last year, over 461 colleges and university across the United States and Canada competed, composting and recycling a total sum of 85.6 million pounds. There are many different awards won by a number of schools, including a grand champion which has the highest diversion rate, per capita classic, which is the pounds of total waste per capita, waste minimization, which is the lbs. total waste per capita, and gorilla, the total recycling weight. Those are the four categories in which U-M Ann Arbor will be competing. Last year, Antioch University, a private liberal arts university in Seattle, won the grand champion prize with a 93.1% recycling rate. This year marks the tenth year of the University of Michigan participating in RecycleMania.
What is Battle of the Buildings?
Battle of the Buildings is the U-M Ann Arbor campus-specific building vs. building competition to determine which building can achieve the highest diversion rate and lowest amount of trash! The Argus II Building won the competition for highest recycling rate last year, averaging a rate of 63.3%. Battle of the Buildings also features a Most Improved Recycling Rate competition that compares each building's 2014 recycling rate with its 2015 recycling rate, which the LSA Building won last year! Each building not only competes with every other building on campus, but also with buildings of similar function - for example, East Quad competes against Markley for highest residential building recycling rate.
How has the University of Michigan done historically?
The recycling rate for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, according to the 2014 RecycleMania results, is 29.1%, ranking 120th. Michigan State, little brother to University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, ranked 105th with a diversion rate of 31.29%. The Ohio State University did not compete in RecycleMania in 2014, but in 2013 we were only two ranks behind them - OSU ranked 109th with a diversion rate of 31.3% and we ranked 111th with a diversion rate of 31.1%. We were so close!
What part can I play in RecycleMania?
Are you a University of Michigan faculty member? At your next department meeting, bring up RecycleMania and ensure that knowledge of the competition and that of waste reduction and recycling is up to date among your colleagues. Identify any waste materials commonly produced by members of your department and the proper waste receptacle they belong in. Any questions can be directed toward recycle@umich.edu. Also, talk to the facilities manager of your building to ensure that you are signed up to compete. If not, the link to sign up is available here. The deadline to register is Friday, January 23rd. Your building will get weekly updates on its status against the other schools.
Are you a University of Michigan staff member? Talk to the facilities manager of your building to ensure that you are signed up to compete. If not, the link to sign up is available here. The deadline to register is Friday, January 23rd. Your building will get weekly updates on its status against the other schools. Any questions can be directed toward recycle@umich.edu.
Are you a University of Michigan student? If you live in a dorm, talk to your RA about arranging a RecycleMania awareness event so that you can discuss the competition with your hall-mates. Casually discuss with your hall-mates the competition and which waste items they frequently produce that are recyclable. If you live off-campus, talk with your roommates about the competition and how it is especially important to recycle on campus during these ten weeks. Also, attend the RecycleMania Kick-Off in all on-campus dining halls on January 20th! Times of the kick-off are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Any questions can be directed toward recycle@umich.edu.
Also, look out for Rufus the Recycler, the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling's mascot, on campus every Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.!
ReferencesBattle of the Buildings is the U-M Ann Arbor campus-specific building vs. building competition to determine which building can achieve the highest diversion rate and lowest amount of trash! The Argus II Building won the competition for highest recycling rate last year, averaging a rate of 63.3%. Battle of the Buildings also features a Most Improved Recycling Rate competition that compares each building's 2014 recycling rate with its 2015 recycling rate, which the LSA Building won last year! Each building not only competes with every other building on campus, but also with buildings of similar function - for example, East Quad competes against Markley for highest residential building recycling rate.
How has the University of Michigan done historically?
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| This logo was retrieved from recyclemania.com. |
What part can I play in RecycleMania?
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| This is a photo of Rufus the Recycler, the official mascot of the U-M Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling. This photo was taken by the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling. |
Are you a University of Michigan staff member? Talk to the facilities manager of your building to ensure that you are signed up to compete. If not, the link to sign up is available here. The deadline to register is Friday, January 23rd. Your building will get weekly updates on its status against the other schools. Any questions can be directed toward recycle@umich.edu.
Are you a University of Michigan student? If you live in a dorm, talk to your RA about arranging a RecycleMania awareness event so that you can discuss the competition with your hall-mates. Casually discuss with your hall-mates the competition and which waste items they frequently produce that are recyclable. If you live off-campus, talk with your roommates about the competition and how it is especially important to recycle on campus during these ten weeks. Also, attend the RecycleMania Kick-Off in all on-campus dining halls on January 20th! Times of the kick-off are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Any questions can be directed toward recycle@umich.edu.
"2013." 2013. Recyclemania, 2014. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
"2014." 2014. Recyclemania, 2014. Web. 09 Jan. 2015.
"About." Recyclemania. Recyclemania, 2014. Web. 09 Jan. 2015.
Artley, Tracy, and Alison Richardson. "RecycleMania | Recycling | Plant Operations, UofM." RecycleMania | Recycling | Plant Operations, UofM. Waste Reduction and Recycling Office I Plant Operations U of M, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
Artley, Tracy, and Alison Richardson. "RecycleMania | Recycling | Plant Operations, UofM." RecycleMania | Recycling | Plant Operations, UofM. Waste Reduction and Recycling Office I Plant Operations U of M, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
