Beginning on January 18th, the University of Michigan will be participating in a 10 week national recycling competition called RecycleMania. The goal is to maximize recycling and minimize our contribution to the landfill. By participating in this friendly competition, the University of Michigan will be going headtohead with Michigan State and Ohio State, as well as many more colleges across the country. Recyclemania is a perfect opportunity for the University of Michigan community to show our commitment and dedication to sustainability. In order to beat our rivals and do well, we need your help!
Here’s How It Works:
Here’s What You Can Do:
- “RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE.” —Bo Schembechler
- School Supplies: Recycle your used school supplies like papers, hardcoverooks, paperback books, index cards, paper folders, and plastic items. You probably need to clean your room anyway, so this is your opportunity!
- Plastic Bottles/Cans: If you choose to have a bottled or canned beverage, make sure to recycle it. So easy even a Buckeye can do it! *** Bottle caps and coffee cups, cannot be recycled, just FYI.
- Recycle Your Take Out Containers in a University Building: You can’t be a UM undergraduate without loving No Thai. Chipotle is also a staple of the American college student diet. If you get take out during Recyclemania, a quick rinse of your plastic container or tin top is all you need to do before recycling.
- Read Recycle Labels: Most people throw out recyclable material simply because they’re not sure if it can be recycled. Ann Arbor Sanitation is particularly good at recycling a great deal of materials. For reference, here’s the Recycle Ann Arbor list. Most plastic, and paper products can be recycled, but if you are not sure, it is always a good idea to read the label. Most recyclable products have a triangular recycle sign as well.
- Batteries: When your batteries are dead, recycle them! Each residence hall has battery recycling containers. If you are not sure where your residence hall has containers, staff at your community center will gladly help.
- Take Only What You Can Eat In The Dining Halls: Take what you can eat, and feel free to go back for seconds. This will cut down food waste!
- HANG OUT/STUDY MORE IN RESIDENCE HALLS/ UNIONS: It is virtually impossible to completely reduce all of your waste and recycle everything that you use. But if you hang out/ study more often in dorms or unions, what you use will be recycled more often.
RecycleMania is the perfect opportunity for the University of Michigan to display its commitment to the natural environment on a national scale. By recycling and reducing your waste, we can beat Michigan State and Ohio State! We need your help to beat our rivals and show that no other school in the big ten or the nation cares about sustainability the way we do! Go Blue!