For those with green thumbs, the opportunity to get rid of unwanted waste while participating in a nation-wide recycling competition is approaching.
On Feb. 12, this year’s RecycleMania event will begin in the Student Union Atrium. Last year, 266 universities participated in RecycleMania, a competition in which each school reported its recycling data over 10 weeks.
Although the competition will be taking place until March 30, students can visit the Atrium on Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn more about recycling, play some green games and make crafts such as upcycled valentines and terrariums.
Wright State will collect various items that are made from cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum and paper:
Plastic: Milk jugs, soda, water, detergent and shampoo bottles.
Glass: Clear, brown, green and blue glass bottles and jars.
Cans: Aluminum beverage cans, steel soup and food cans and empty aerosol cans. Labels do not have to be removed.
Paper: Notebook and copy paper, magazines, catalogues, phone books, paperboard, cereal and gift boxes, newspapers (including inserts and ads), junk mail, drink boxes and other gable-top cartons.
Last year, Wright State recycled 171,949 pounds of materials, ranking the university at 90 out of 266. In 2011, Wright State recycled 162,178 pounds.
“Students should be interested in taking part at the kickoff event for a chance to learn more about the materials that Wright State University recycles, maybe get a head start on their valentines or a small plant in an up-cycled terrarium, and for a chance to win great prizes like t-shirts, water bottles, coffee mugs, frisbees, re-usable grocery bags, and pens,” Secretary for Custodial Services Jessie Nastasi said.
RecycleMania is a way for students to understand why they should put old soda bottles in the recycle bins. According to Nastasi, students’ participation in the event can help develop habits in which they can positively change their carbon footprint.
Recycling bins are located throughout campus and are marked with the recycling symbol. Wright State recycles a large amount of materials, but it is the responsibility of students to check what they are planning on throwing away before they place it in the wrong bin.
More information about the competition may be found at www.recyclemaniacs.org. Wright State’s specific RecycleMania webpage is located at www.wright.edu/administration/physicalplant/recycling/recyclemania.html.
