Recyclemania Hits The University Of Maryland

This year’s “Recyclemania” event runs from January 27 through April 5. Each week the University of Maryland reports its recyclables and waste weights. Recyclemania calculates Maryland’s standing in the competition relative to the university’s enrollment, resident student population and number of staff.

Weekly ratings will be publicized to the Maryland community throughout the competition at www.environment.umd.edu/recycle and through other locations on campus.

Maria Lonsbury, one of the coordinators of Maryland’s Recyclemania effort, says the key to success this year is to get students much more involved in the recycling competition. One way Lonsbury has reached students is by promoting Recyclemania during Maryland basketball games.

“We had a recycling competition during half time at the women’s game January 31, and we will do it again at the men’s game on Sunday, March 2,” Lonsbury says.

Since the enactment of the Maryland Recycling Act in 1998, the university has been working hard to improve campus recycling. In 2004, only 17 percent of waste was being recycled and during the 2007 calendar year that figure jumped to 41 percent.

“The University of Maryland has placed a high priority on recycling over the past few years,” says Student Affairs Vice President Linda Clement. She says that while Maryland has made good progress, entering the Recyclemania contest will help “maintain and enhance this upward trend.”