The following rules govern of the RecycleMania competition. Please take time to read them in their entirety. There are no new rules or rule changes for the 2010 competition. Questions regarding the rules may be directed to the Helpline at helpline@recyclemaniacs.org or (843) 278 7686.

The 2010 RecycleMania Competition will run from Sunday, January 17 to Saturday, March 27.

Eligibility

RecycleMania is open internationally to all secondary institutions of higher learning with the following qualifications. Degree-granting colleges and universities with on-site learning facilities in North America may participate in either division described below. Institutions outside of North America, those that issue certificates but not degrees, and those that offer predominately web-based coursework may participate in the Benchmark Division only. K-12 schools and non-academic institutions are not eligible to participate.

Participation Categories

RecycleMania is made up of four primary competitions, as well as four targeted material competitions. Participating schools are automatically included in each category for which recycling and trash data are provided. Click the category titles for in depth explanations of each, including what materials may be included.

  • Grand Champion
    The Grand Champion category combines trash and core recyclable materials to determine a school's recycling rate as a percentage of its overall waste generation. Successful colleges and universities in this category demonstrate their achievement in both source reduction and recycling.

  • Stephen K Gaski Per Capita Classic
    Schools compete to see which can collect the largest combined amount of paper, cardboard and bottles and cans per person. The Per Capita Classic is the original RecycleMania competition.

  • Waste Minimization
    Schools compete to see which produces the least amount of municipal solid waste (both recyclables and trash) per person. This competition is intended to reward those schools that generate the least amount of combined waste and recyclables, emphasizing reuse and source reduction over recycling.

  • Gorilla Prize
    This category recognizes the larger schools that recycle the highest gross tonnage of combined paper, cardboard and bottle and cans during the ten-week competition, regardless of campus population.

  • Targeted Materials
    In addition to the four primary competitions, schools may compete in four targeted material categories including Paper, Corrugated Cardboard, Bottles and Cans, and Food Service Organics.

Divisions

RecycleMania is separated into two divisions, the Competition Division and Benchmark Division. Colleges and universities may choose to register for either based on eligibility requirements described above, and the school's ability to meet division standards. The same eight categories are included in both divisions.

Competition Division

The Competition Division constitutes the official competition and posted rankings. Only schools in the Competition Division are shown in the weekly results or are eligible to win a given category. Upon registering, each school is automatically assigned its own Profile Page (found from the list of schools on the "Participating Schools" sidebar), which lists campus information and the school's ongoing results in several ranking formats. To participate in the Competition Division, schools must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a degree-granting colleges or university located in North America offering primarily on-site coursework.
  • Participate with their entire campus including auxiliaries and satellite facilities* (Click here for greater explanation)
  • Be able to track and report data according to the standards outlined below.
  • Have the official contact person responsible for reporting weights complete a half hour online certification module as part of registration process.

Benchmark Division

The Benchmark Division is less formal and does not include placement in the official rankings or eligibility to win any categories. Benchmark schools report their recycling and trash data, but are in every other respect unregulated in how they choose to participate. Benchmark schools may choose to include only a segment of the campus (such as residence halls), they are not required to complete the certification module, and are not bound by the tracking and reporting standards. The Benchmark Division is open to any institution of higher learning in the world. Benchmark schools otherwise enjoy all the rights have access to all promotional resources available from RecycleMania.

Though Benchmark schools do not have their results included in the official rankings, they do have the ability to view their weekly progress in relation to other colleges and universities on their Profile Page. Benchmark schools are encouraged to promote their RecycleMania achievements to their campus and local communities in general terms but may not claim an official standing in the competitions. In other words, they may promote that their school is "recycling more" paper than XYZ University or that the college is "creating less waste than 75% of the schools in RecycleMania", but Benchmark Division schools may not make statements that they are "beating" XYZ University in the Paper competition or that they are "in 5th place in the Waste Minimization category".

Population

The per capita results for the Waste Minimization, Per Capita Classic, Paper, Corrugated Cardboard, Bottles and Cans, and Food Service Organics categories are determined by dividing a school's weekly recycling and trash weights by its student, staff and faculty population. RecycleMania automatically uses population data compiled by the US Department of Education to determine a standardized full time equivalent (FTE) number for United States schools participating with their entire campus. Benchmark Division schools that choose to limit their scope of participation to a section of campus will be expected to research and provide an FTE number for the subsection from which recycling and trash data will be tracked. Schools outside the United States participating in the Competition Division will need to determine their FTE population in consultation with RecycleMania staff. For further explanation about determining FTE populations, click here.

How Results Are Determined

The first two weeks of the 10 week competition ( January 17 - 23 and January 24 – 30) are considered "trials" weeks and will not be counted in the final results. Starting with the third week, all future week rankings and the final results will be based on the cumulative weight data submitted. During the first two Trials weeks, schools will still submit their weights and have their results posted, however, the data will not be factored into the subsequent cumulative results. Competition Division winners in each category will be determined based on their results from the final eight weeks of the competition.

Tracking and Reporting Standards

To provide a meaningful comparison between college and university's recycling efforts it is important that participants use standardized methods of tracking and reporting their recycling & trash data. Competition Division schools are required to meet the following standards. Benchmark Division schools are encouraged to follow them to the best of their ability.

  • All recycling and trash data are submitted as a weights (as opposed to volume), either in US pounds or metric kilograms.
  • Reported weights should be based on actual observed recycling and trash generation. Exceptions to this rule:
    • Schools that receive infrequent or monthly weight reports must use past weekly averages to report interim weights on their weekly reporting form. Once actual data becomes available they should revise previously reported numbers.
    • Schools that have difficulty tracking data from sections of their campus or auxiliary facilities may apply to RecycleMania administrators to use a formula estimate to account for up to 25% of their reported weight totals. RecycleMania staff must approve the methodology in advance.
  • Where possible, actual weights should always be used. Weight estimates derived from volume measurements may be substituted using the following guidelines:
    • Volume-to-weight conversions must be done using the approved RecycleMania conversion factors (25K PDF) published on the website. Where a school believes these factors do not accurately reflect their actual material weights, they may appeal to RecycleMania staff to use estimates derived locally. To do so, the school will need to demonstrate through sampling how their material weights differ and provide an explanation of the methodology used to generate the new estimates.
    • Except where RecycleMania staff provide a specific exemption as described above, volume estimates must be based on actual observed quantities. For instance, a five yard dumpster of cardboard must be observed to be full, or a visual determination of how full it is must be made. Simply reporting based on capacity of the container without observed quantities is not allowed.
    • Schools have flexibility to measure volume directly from the public collection containers or to base their reported data on the total volume of material collected from multiple locations. The same standard for observed quantities exists for total collected materials as for individual bins.
    • In situations where weight data is not available each week because of infrequent hauler reports, etc., schools must provide place holding estimates until actual weight data becomes available. Schools can use previous weight data to create weekly averages for use in the interim. These interim estimates must be replaced with actual data once it becomes available. Schools that do not report any numbers during the off-weeks will be switched to the Benchmarking Division.
  • Only materials that will be recycled, composted or used in the production of new products or goods may be reported. Materials used as feedstock for waste-to-energy or alternative daily cover are not permitted. See below for acceptable materials.
  • Only trash and recycling generated by the school may be counted. Outside sources such as public drop-off materials are not permitted
  • Reported materials should match the population generating them. In most cases for United States schools, the FTE population provided by the US Department of Education includes all academic-related auxiliaries and off campus offices and facilities. If a school will include trash and recycling weights from non-academic hospital facilities they will need to provide FTE staff population data when registering. Contact the RecycleMania Helpline with questions about tracking waste from the appropriate areas of the school.
  • Schools must submit a report every week throughout the competition. After week 3, non-reporting schools may be shifted to the Benchmark Division .
  • RecycleMania administrators may in the course of certifying the accuracy of the weekly rankings, request back up documentation from any Competition Division school. Where numbers are thought to be inaccurate, participants will be consulted and may be asked to alter them. In extreme situations, RecycleMania administrators reserve the right to shift participant schools to the Benchmark Division if agreement cannot be reached on appropriate numbers.
  • Coordinators must respond to direct inquiries from RecycleMania staff phone calls and emails within a generally acceptable period of time.
  • RecycleMania may have the opportunity to partner with the NCAA to announce the winners of the competition at the Final Four basketball tournament in Indianapolis on the weekend of April 3-5, 2010. To take advantage of this opportunity, RecycleMania will require top ranked schools contending for the winning slot in each category to submit their final week's results by no later than the close of business Wednesday, April 1.

What Materials to Report

Each category has a defined set recyclable materials that can be counted in the weekly weight totals. Aside from the targeted material categories, the following materials are reported for the main categories:

  • Per Capita Classic:
    • Bottles and Cans
    • Paper
    • Corrugated Cardboard
  • Waste Minimization:
    • Trash
    • Bottles and Cans
    • Paper
    • Corrugated Cardboard
  • Grand Champion:
    • Trash
    • Bottles and Cans
    • Paper
    • Corrugated Cardboard
  • Gorilla Prize:
    • Bottles and Cans
    • Paper
    • Corrugated Cardboard

Definition of Material Types

The following details what may be can be included under each material type.

  • Paper
    • Boxboard / chipboard
    • Catalogs
    • Hard and softbound books
    • Junk mail
    • Magazines
    • Newspaper
    • Office Paper(all colors)
    • Phone books
  • Bottles and cans
    • #1 through #7 Plastic (e.g., soda, water, juice, beer, laundry detergent bottles)
    • Aluminum cans
    • Glass bottles and jars
    • Steel cans
  • Cardboard
    • Baled and unbaled cardboard boxes
    • Boxboard / chipboard
  • Food Service Organics
    • Pre and post-consumer food waste
    • Compostable dinnerware, napkins, etc.
  • Trash
    • Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
    • Construction and demolition waste and medical waste are not included.

Unacceptable Materials

The following materials are not included in RecycleMania

  • Appliances
  • Computers
  • Materials from construction and demolition projects
  • Electronics
  • Furniture
  • Industrial plastics
  • Other miscellaneous recyclable items
  • Pallets
  • Scrap metal
  • Scrap wood
  • Yard waste
  • Food waste*

* Food waste may not be used when calculating weekly recycling numbers for the main categories; however, participants are encouraged to report food waste as part of the food service organics separately in order to qualify for Targeted Materials recognition.

How to Participate

While each schools sets their own goals and determines how they can best participate in RecycleMania, the following are universal steps that apply to most schools.

  • Register
    All schools must complete the online registration form. Registration is closed for the 2010 competition. Registration for the 2011 competition will open in the fall of 2010.

  • Complete Online Certification Module
    A certification module must be completed by the primary point of contact for all Competition Division schools. It can either be taken at the time of registration or separately as long as it is finished by the start of the competition. Benchmark Division schools are encouraged but not required to complete the module.

  • Confirm Data Tracking Procedure
    RecycleMania reporting requirements in many cases differ from participating school's traditional data tracking systems. In some cases, a school will need to make special arrangements with a waste hauler or with staff and volunteers to collect data differently. Consistent with the Tracking and Reporting Standards listed above, these suggested steps are required for Competition Division schools and encouraged for Benchmark Division schools. The following are examples of situations schools will need to prepare for:
    • Schools that received monthly or infrequent weight reports should attempt to arrange for special weekly reports for the duration of the 10 weeks. Where this is not possible, the school will need to use previous reports to develop estimated weekly numbers to use as interim place holders in the weekly reporting. All Competition Division schools will be required to submit numbers every week of the competition unless special arrangements are made with RecycleMania staff in advance.
    • Schools that normally rely on static estimates based on past averages will need develop a system for tracking the actual weight or volume of material being collected. In some cases this might mean having truck drivers or student volunteers do visual checks of dumpsters as they're emptied to determine how full they are. In other cases it may mean arranging to use an off campus truck scale during the 10 weeks.
    • A school with off-campus medical, research and other facilities will need to make arrangements to track trash and recycling data before the competition starts. For more background on tracking satellite facilities, click here.
    • If a school intends to use volume-to-weight conversion factors to estimate certain material types, they should review the official conversion factors provided by RecycleMania in advance of the competition to gauge how well they reflect the actual weight of materials being generated. Where a school believes the official estimates do not accurately reflect their actual material weights, they should contact the RecycleMania Helpline to work out an arrangement for developing alternate conversion factors.

  • Develop Promotional Strategy
    Every school has its own way of using RecycleMania to support its recycling efforts. Each campus should use the pre-competition period to develop their own strategy for promoting its participation in a way that will best motivate the campus community to join in. If a school has a very good recycling program, that strategy may be to focus on the top ten in the national competition. Schools with modest or new recycling programs may do better to focus promotional message on a smaller group of regional schools or on measuring improvement during the course of the competition. A school may want to organize a mini competition between residence halls. Between schools with long standing sports rivalries, it may be best to frame RecycleMania as a direct challenge between them. For more ideas on strategizing participation, visit the Tools section.

  • Fill Out Weekly Form
    Every school has its own way of using RecycleMania to support its recycling efforts. Each campus should use the pre-competition period to develop their own strategy for promoting its participation in a way that will best motivate the campus community to join in. If a school has a very good recycling program, that strategy may be to focus on the top ten in the national competition. Schools with modest or new recycling programs may do better to focus promotional message on a smaller group of regional schools or on measuring improvement during the course of the competition. A school may want to organize a mini competition between residence halls. Between schools with long standing sports rivalries, it may be best to frame RecycleMania as a direct challenge between them. For more ideas on strategizing participation, visit the Tools section.

    Schools report their numbers using the online Weekly Reporting form located in the Forms section of the RecycleMania Web site. Weight data is due by 12 p.m. Wednesday following a full collection week (Sunday-Saturday). For instance, schools will report the first week's numbers (January 17 through 23) the following Wednesday, January 27. RecycleMania will in turn publish the update results by Friday afternoon of the same week (week 1 results will be posted by Friday, January 29). The one exception to the reporting deadlines is the final week (March 20 – 27). Competition Division schools listed in the top ten of each category in week 9 will still be required to submit their number the following Wednesday, March 31. All other participants in both division will have an additional week until Wednesday, April 7 to submit their week 10 numbers.

    The reporting form features an entry field for each of the material types that are factored into the various categories: paper, cardboard, bottles and cans and food service organics. Schools that use a "single stream" or mixed recyclables collection system can enter a single aggregate weight for inclusion in the main categories (Grand Champion, Per Capita Classic, Waste Minimization, Gorilla Prize), but not the targeted material categories.

    The website database will automatically compute and show a school's results in each category for which requisite data has been supplied. Weight reports may be submitted in US Standard pounds or Metric kilograms according to the standard chosen during initial registration. Colleges and universities in either division may revise previous week's data at any point during the competition. School's that receive monthly or infrequent weight data should submit place holding estimates each week until actual weight data becomes available.

  • Acknowledge Winners
    2010 national winners will receive a permanent award with their school name, competition category and year inscribed. Winners will be acknowledged in a public awards ceremony at a recycling industry event to be determined. At the completion of the competition, all Competition Division schools are encouraged to publicize the national winners with a congratulatory advertisement in their school newspaper and/or other campus media (e.g., radio, campus television station, campus-wide email message).

Code of Conduct

All schools compete under the following principles:

  • The competition's goal is to increase student awareness and involvement in campus recycling through collaboration and partnership with participating schools.
  • RecycleMania is a cooperative, friendly competition. Cheating, discourteous or offensive behaviors are grounds for a school to be removed from RecycleMania.
  • No schools "lose"—all participants win through their achievements in waste reduction and recycling.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact the RecycleMania Helpline at (843) 278 7686 or helpline@recyclemaniacs.org.