UB is among 523 colleges and universities nationwide taking part in RecycleMania, a competition designed to promote recycling and waste reduction on campus.

For eight weeks—beginning Feb. 3 and running through March 31, participating institutions will report recycling and trash data, and be ranked to determine which school has the highest recycling rate as a percentage of total waste and which school generates the least amount of combined trash and recycling. The ultimate goal is to raise awareness of campus recycling programs and reduce overall waste generation.

During RecycleMania 2012, 630 institutions collectively recycled or composted 92 million pounds of waste, preventing the release of nearly 150,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E). This reduction in greenhouse gases is comparable to the annual emissions from more than 25,800 passenger cars, the electricity used in nearly 16,400 homes or the burning of nearly 705 railcars’ worth of coal.

2013 marks the fifth consecutive year UB has participated in RecycleMania.

Over the past year, UB composted 240,900 pounds of waste and recycled 1,564,000 pounds of materials.

Members of the UB community can take part in RecycleMania in several ways:

• Recycle on campus and encourage other to as well. Students will be awarding prizes through the “Caught Green Handed” program to faculty, staff and students “caught” recycling. 
• Hang posters in visible areas.
• Visit the UB Green Facebook page on Tuesdays and Thursdays for recycling tips. Share and like the posts with your Facebook friends.
• Visit the Office of Sustainability’s website to print recycling instructions or request bins.

For more information, visit the RecycleMania website.