RecycleMania returns

By Samantha Kantor
Writer

Everyone on campus is sure to have heard the buzz about RecylceMania at some point or another this semester, regardless of whether they have chosen to participate in it or not. For those who have not been informed about the University’s goal to help protect the environment, you may want to read on and realize what an impact you could (and should!) be making.

“RecycleMania is a friendly competition between colleges and universities across the United States to see who can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita or have the highest recycling rate,” Christine Kassab ’08 said. “It is a 10-week competition that started on January 28 and will last until April 7.”

Originally created in Ohio in 2001, RecycleMania has increased significantly in its number of participants. From 2004 to 2007, the number of schools participating increased by approximately 200. Pennsylvania schools such as Villanova University, University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, among many others, are all 2007 RecycleMania competitors.

“Bucknell is doing better than last year, but compared to some of the other schools, [the University] has a lot to improve on,” Kassab said.

The University placed 48th out of 165 schools in the Per Capita Classic (pounds of recycling per student) and 60th out of 75 schools in the Grand Champion (recycling rate). Though these statistics have improved since last year, there is still much to be desired in order for the University to progress in the contest.

Kassab notes that the facilities on campus need to increase the amount of recycling bins, as well as place them in the spots they are needed the most. Students can contribute by not throwing garbage in the recycling bins; this contaminates the recyclable items and makes them unusable.

For those of you who are skeptical about the effectiveness of recycling, I assure you recycling is an important step in helping the environment and it is happening on campus; RecycleMania is not an imaginary contest with which the University’s environmental activists are humoring us. Kassab encourages everyone to take those few extra steps to the recycling bin and to reuse any items in order to reduce waste.

If you want to know more about RecycleMania, you can visit the official website at www.recyclemaniacs.org. And remember to recycle all plastic, glass, aluminum and paper whenever you can!