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MUSC joins RecycleMania competition  by Christine von Kolnitz Recycling Coordinator For the next 10 weeks MUSC will compete in a national collegiate recycling competition by closely monitoring collections of paper, containers and cardboard. The institution can also compete in a targeted materials competition for food waste composting. MUSC composts food waste using the vermicomposting method.   The 2006 competition includes 90 colleges and universities. South Carolina has five including MUSC, USC, Clemson, Winthrop and College of Charleston. A few of the schools with medical facilities are Duke, Emory, Harvard, and Brown. What Is RecycleMania? RecycleMania is a friendly competition among university recycling programs in the United States that provides students and staff with a fun, proactive activity in waste reduction.   During a 10-week period, schools compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables, the least amount of trash, and produce the highest recycling rate. All participating schools are required to report measurements on a weekly basis in pounds. The university that recycles the most, wins.   RecycleMania provides many ways to gain recognition, including RecycleMania trophies for the winners of each competition.   The main goal is to increase student and staff awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization. In the end, this event shows that all participating universities made achievements in recycling and waste reduction. Overall Goals for RecycleMania Have a fair and friendly recycling competition. Increase recycling participation by students and staff. Heighten awareness of schools’ waste management and recycling programs. Expand economic opportunities while addressing environmental issues in a positive way. Lower waste generated on-campus by reducing, reusing, and recycling. Organize this event successfully so it can be repeated and possibly expanded to other campuses in the future. Why Is There a Need for RecycleMania? A number of universities across the United States  successfully operated waste management and recycling programs for more than 10 years. The universities participating in this competition boast some of the highest recycling and waste diversion rates in the country. Despite their recycling successes, certain on-campus facilities tend to produce most of campus waste.   In particular, residence halls and dining halls were the largest producers of campus waste—from 30 to 70 percent of campus trash. Data from waste audits conducted at these buildings suggest that up to half of all residence hall trash is recyclable. History of RecycleMania RecycleMania began in February 2001 when Ed Newman (Ohio University) and Stacy Edmonds Wheeler (Miami University) decided that something had to be done to increase recycling in the residence and dining halls on their campuses. RecycleMania was born. During this 10-week competition, Miami University and Ohio University went head to head to see which school could recycle the most. The first year yielded Miami University the winner over Ohio University.   RecycleMania went on strong in the 2002 and 2003 competitions, approximately doubling participation each year. In 2004, 11 new schools joined the competition, raising the total participating schools to 17.   In 2004, RecycleMania partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise program to enhance the competition, providing technical assistance, a Web site, and electronic reporting. The 2005 competition had 47 participating schools and included two competitions, per capita recycling and recycling rate. Miami University won the Per Capita contest and California State University-San Marcos won the Recycling Rate contest.   RecycleMainia is making a difference at colleges and universities across the country.   Help make a difference at MUSC by recycling paper and aluminum in the recycling bins provided and break down cardboard boxes so they are easier for staff to recycle.   For more information on RecyleMania, visit http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/ or call 792-4066.     Friday, Feb. 3, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778, ext. 201.