Orange, Black and Green

Recyclemania has descended on Kalamazoo College again. The annual college and university competition in which institutions nationwide compete to recycle the most materials and minimize waste output stretches for 10 weeks from late January into early April. This year, 595 colleges and universities, representing approximately 5 million students and 1 million faculty and staff from 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada will take part in a friendly competition and benchmarking tool intended to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Last year, 510 institutions collectively recycled or composted nearly 70 million pounds of waste.  Kalamazoo joined the competition in 2004 and has finished at or near the top of numerous categories in the years since. In 2009, in per capita categories based on numbers of students and staff, “K” finished first in bottles and cans recycled, second in corrugated cardboard, tenth in paper, and second in total pounds recycled. “K” also finished fifth in percent of overall campus waste recycled. Long-time “K” recycling coordinator Rob Townsend says he takes particular glee in beating the big schools, particularly the Ivy Leagues. “It is almost like March Madness,” he said. “I look at who we compare with and make my own Sweet 16.”  In addition to placing numerous recycling containers around campus, Townsend and his staff of student workers carryout “dorm storms” going door-to-door in residential halls to remove recyclables, answer questions about what to recycle, and to let students know how well “K” is doing in the competition. Recyclers also team up with other programs on campus to drive awareness and participation, and preach the benefits of reducing overall waste. “Do you really need to print that email?” asks Townsend. “And how about buying drinking water in two-gallon jugs instead of 12-ounce bottles?”  This year, “K” residence halls will compete against each other in a side bet to see which ones achieve the greatest percentage of recycled consumables and waste minimization. Crissey and Severn will join forces against dual competitors Trowbridge-Dewaters and Hoben-Harmon. The seven Living Learning houses will also compete. According to Townsend, prospective “K” students learn about RecycleMania and Kalamazoo’s other sustainability efforts through the College’s Admissions Office. New students receive recycling packets when they arrive on campus in order to encourage their involvement.“Kalamazoo students and staff come to appreciate the recycling effort here,” Townsend said. “It becomes second nature to them.” For more on Recyclemania nationally, visit www.recyclemania.org