Randolph-Macon College students have joined forces to compete in
RecycleMania, a nationwide initiative that promotes waste reduction on campus communities. RecycleMania, which began in 2001, is a competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs.
The 2010 competition runs from January 17-March 27.
Over a 10-week period, schools report recycling and trash data. Schools are then ranked according to who collects the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or who has the highest recycling rate. Participating schools can watch how their results compare against other schools and use this to rally their campus communities to reduce and recycle more.
R-MC is participating in RecycleMania as part of the Yellow Jackets Go Green initiative to reduce the college's ecological footprint. The aim is to promote an increase in recycling and reduction in waste; to enhance awareness of the college's larger efforts to promote environmental stewardship; and to establish a systematic, comprehensive recycling program as part of R-MC’s commitment toward sustainability.
R-MC Environmental Health and Safety Programs Manager Craig Collins is excited about RecycleMania and what it represents. “One of R-MC’s goals for RecycleMania is for everyone on campus to know where our recycling receptacles are located,” says Collins. RecycleMania is just
one way to make students, faculty and staff aware of their individual and collective ‘footprints’—the environmental impact of human activities on natural ecological systems—as they relate to R-MC’s campus.
For over a decade, R-MC has implemented energy conservation measures such as replacing windows with insulated glass, installing motion sensors in dormitory restrooms, reducing water consumption by using low flow shower heads and recycling toner and inkjet cartridges, aluminum cans and paper. The college has also been converting from fuel oil to natural and propane gas to reduce emissions.
In April 2009, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) presented Estes dining hall with its prestigious Virginia Green Restaurant Certificate. In December 2009, Macon Coffee received the Virginia Green Restaurant Certificate.
All R-MC students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in RecycleMania by putting all recyclable items in the appropriate receptacles. Below is a list of the locations of receptacles on campus. Bennett - cans and plastic, etc. in common areas; printer cartridges and batteries in study room
Blackwell Auditorium – cans in lobby
Brock Center – cans in lobby
Brown Campus Center – cans and plastic, etc. near mailroom
Business Office – cans on first floor
Conrad – cans and plastic, etc. and printer cartridges and batteries: Lobby and second and third floors center
Copley Science Center – cans in lobby and on first, second and third floors; printer cartridges in Copley 242.
Crenshaw – cans in lobby
Fox Hall – cans on first and second floors
Garland - cans and plastic, etc. in common areas; printer cartridges and batteries in study room
Haley Hall – cans in halls, printer cartridges in copy room
Irby - cans and plastic, etc. in common areas; printer cartridges and batteries in study room
Library – cans and printer cartridges by circulation desk
Jones - cans and plastic, etc. in common areas; printer cartridges and batteries in study room
Mary Branch – cans at north and south entrances; plastic, etc. in the Hive
Moreland – cans and plastic, etc. and printer cartridges and batteries: Lobby and second- and third-floor center
Old Chapel – cans on first floor
Olin - cans and plastic, etc. in common areas; printer cartridges and batteries in study room
Peele – plastic, etc. in front stairwell
Physical Plant – cans
Rhodeen House – cans
Smith - cans and plastic, etc. in common areas; printer cartridges and batteries in study room
Starr – cans and plastic, etc. in common areas; printer cartridges and batteries in study room
Thomas Branch – cans on first, second and third floors; plastic, etc. on second and third floors
Welcome Center – cans
*“Plastic, etc.” refers to receptacles that accept plastic, glass, aluminum and paper products.
The RecycleMania Competition is a project of the College and University Recycling Council (CURC), which promotes increased recycling participation and waste reduction on college campuses. Partnership support is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise Program.
For more information on RecycleMania, visit www.recyclemania.org or contact Craig Collins at (804) 752-3141 or at ccollins@rmc.edu