As a reminder that a clean earth requires the attention and effort of everyone on it, UB is now one of the 393 schools nationwide registered for the 2009 RecycleMania competition.
The objective is for the student body to recycle as many items as possible from Sunday to March 28, according to Anne Marie Wells, an intern at the UB Green office. These items will be collected and measured, and the per capita recycling rate of each university will be nationally ranked.
UB Green has been busy promoting this event because this is the first year that UB has participated, according to Wells. The university's attempt to be the most active contestant in the competition is still in its beginning stages.
"We are still organizing the way that things are going to be run right now," Wells said.
SUNY schools besides UB who will be jockeying for a position in the national rankings include Albany, Binghamton, Fredonia, Brockport and New Paltz.
There are 107 schools in the Benchmark Division, which allows participants to view their progress, but does not add them to the ranking list. The remaining number of the schools in Recyclemania will be participating in the Competition Division, which will give them a spot in the rankings.
One promotional idea for this mass recycling that will be visible on campus this semester is "Caught Green Handed." According to Wells, students who frequently recycle increase their possibility of being caught in the act and rewarded by UB Green.
"Caught Green Handed is intended to raise awareness about Recyclemania," Wells said. "We've had businesses from all around Buffalo donate prizes to give to those who are caught recycling on campus."
This initiative could answer the questions of students who are puzzled as to whether recycling even occurs on UB campus.
"What recycling?" asked Tyler Goldstein, a junior music major. "How can I tell the difference between the recycling and the trash?"
An issue with recycling on campus revolves around many students' use of recycling bins as regular trash bins. Recyclemania will require slightly stricter separation of trash and recyclables.
The material types that are being collected include paper, bottles, cans, cardboard and food service organics. Food service organics are items such as compostable dinnerware, napkins, etc.
Goldstein will not be a participant in Recyclemania, taking a slightly different but equally green approach to salvaging useful material.
"I don't recycle; I don't make waste," Goldstein said. "I wear the same old clothes and I have a water bottle that I bought once that I fill with tap water every day."
For those who are interested in getting involved, recyclables will be collected over a 10-week period. Schools will report their recycling and trash data, and can check their progress on the Recyclemania Web site at www.recyclemania.org. The Web site also includes tools and resources such as volume to weight conversion factors for calculating recycling rates.
Recyclemania began in 2001 and has expanded every year since then. From 2006 to 2007, the number of participating schools more than doubled.
This competition may have a chance to increase the rate of recycling and awareness on the UB campus. Even those who have a different way to stay eco-friendly will be encouraged by the pandemonium of Recyclemania.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
