Waste Minimization

Waste Minimization Trophy This competition focuses on overall waste reduction instead of recycling. Schools compete to see who can generate the lowest amount of total waste per capita, which includes both trash and recycling. This competition is the most complex of the three and will most likely involve a more advanced educational campaign, teaching the campus community to cut waste by placing less emphasis on recycling and more focus on reuse and reduction. Participation in the Waste Minimization competition may be credited by a school as one of their two required “tangible actions” under the Presidents Climate Commitment. For more information about the Commitment rules, visit: http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/

The Waste Minimization category is unique from the other categories in that it requires participants to pledge to undertake at least three specific waste reduction practices in addition to ranking schools according to their waste generation. Schools can choose the three practices from a list provided on the registration page (also listed below), or they may choose to identify their own practices. The actual practices are not benchmarked or measured as part of the traditional 10 week ranking, but rather are intended as a simple pledge of action the school will undertake.

For the weekly ranking component of the Waste Minimization competition, the results are calculated by taking the volume of acceptable recyclables and adding it to the volume of trash and dividing this number with the population figure. The measurements can come from the entire campus or a sub-section of the campus (such as residential areas, student union, etc). University coordinators are required to define this measurement area on the registration form, and the area must remain constant throughout the ten weeks of competition.



The Whole School Division participants will compete for the coveted “Bowling Pin” trophy, first introduced in RecycleMania 2004. This trophy stays with the winner for the year before being forwarded to the following year’s winner. Winners in both the Whole Campus and Partial Campus Divisions will additionally receive permanent awards they keep in recognition of their accomplishments.

The following is a list or waste minimization practices schools may choose from as part of their pledge to reduce waste (See above)

  1. Purchasing office equipment with waste prevention in mind (e.g. electronic interface, double-sided capabilities; sourcing and purchasing for durability, etc.)
  2. Creating accrual mechanisms to use savings in disposal costs to fund further waste reduction initiatives.
  3. Active program to sell or donate campus surplus property.
  4. Working with vendors to reduce transportation packaging (e.g. require vendors shipping on a pallet to take it back with the next delivery; redesign shipping packaging for waste minimization or recyclability, etc).
  5. Reusing and/or redistribute packing materials from central stores and campus distribution centers.
  6. Promoting inter-office reusable envelopes for campus mail and review/improve campus systems for reclaiming extra envelopes for reuse.
  7. Replacing paper documents with online alternatives wherever possible (e.g. telephone directories, course catalogs, room selection, bill payment, grade distribution, etc.) .
  8. Active program to reduce unwanted bulk mail from off-campus sources (e.g. creating an opt-out registry for staff and faculty; housing mail room send out bulk mail removal postcards on behalf of former residents, encouraging the cancellation of unnecessary or duplicate subscriptions etc.).
  9. Implementing campus printing initiatives which prohibit or discourage unlimited printing in computer labs and copy rooms (e.g. pay-per sheet pricing, etc.).
  10. Promoting the use of printer settings and paper reduction software (e.g. GreenPrint).
  11. Creating an office supplies exchange program on campus.
  12. Offering discounts or other incentives for using reusable mugs in campus dining operations.
  13. Offering reusable dinnerware and utensils in all sit-down dining facilities.
  14. Converting all-you-can-eat dining facilities to pay-per-portion system.
  15. Establishing post-consumer waste and biodegradable dinnerware composting program.
  16. Creating and promoting a system for the campus community to report wasteful practices and offer suggestions for waste reduction.
  17. Creating active program to educate employee and students about waste minimization practices (e.g. incorporating waste minimization information into new employee / new student orientation programs; giving regular presentations to campus groups and departments; setting up public displays, etc.).
  18. Recognizing waste reduction / materials management roles in relevant staff job descriptions including administrative assistants, purchasing officials, and building proctors.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact the RecycleMania Helpline at (202) 903 0851 or recyclemania@nrc-recycle.org.