Reinhardt Ranks Higher than The University of Georgia, Georgia Southern and the University of Alabama, among others, in Recyclemania Competition Categories
Zach White, Reinhardt’s horticulturist and Recyclemania coordinator and Jasmine Simmons, a junior interdisciplinary studies major from Dallas, Ga. and RU Green student worker, give high-fives all around for Reinhardt University’s success in the nation-wide Recyclmania competition. |
It was as “stiff-as-cardboard” competition, but Reinhardt pulled ahead against many more well-known and significantly bigger schools in the nation-wide Recyclemania Competition, held February-March 2014.
“We want to thank everyone for your support of RU Green in the Recyclemania at Reinhardt University Competition,” said Zach White, Reinhardt’s horticulturist and Recyclemania coordinator. “Reinhardt is one of the smallest schools in the contest, and this was our first year competing and we could not have done it without your wonderful support!
Recyclemania Results
Reinhardt competed against 460 other colleges and universities, and in the eight-week competition, was ranked according to how much recycling, trash and food waste was collected between the early-February kick off and the competition’s final day on March 29. During this time, Reinhardt recycled 8,560 pounds and prevented the release of 14 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is equivalent to preventing annual emissions from 3 cars or the energy consumption of 1 household.
Recycling at Reinhardt grew rapidly during the period of the Recyclemania competition. Recycling on campus grew every week from week 1 of 680 pounds to Week 8 with 2940 pounds. In the Recyclemania Per Capita Classic category, the University finished 5th in the State of Georgia. It was a bottle-to-bottle battle, but Reinhardt beat Georgia Gwinnett College by.018 pounds per person and beat Georgia Southern overall. Reinhardt recycled an average of 6.132 pounds per person during the 8 weeks.
In the Food Service Organics Category, Reinhardt beat The University of Georgia, and finished in 96th place in the country with an average of only 3.012 pounds of food waste thrown away per person from the Gordy Dinning Center. Among others that Reinhardt came out above to beat: The University of Tennessee and The University of Alabama.
Earth Day at Reinhardt
“Come see us next week for RU Green Earth Week we plan to have a wonderful week,” said White. “On Monday [4/21] a Goodwill Trailer will arrive on campus for donations. Celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday [4/22] at the Earth Day Festival and Farmers Market on the Hasty Student Life Center Lawn. We are also planning a very Special Tree Planting on this day in memory of Frances Fincher ’36. On Wednesday [4/23] we are celebrating with a 100-year-old Birthday Party for the Pecan Tree next to the Burgess Administration Building. We will have free pecan pie and much more!”
For more details about the Recyclemania competition or Reinhardt’s Earth Day events, please visit www.reinhardt.edu/rugreen
About RU Green
Established in 2008, the sustainability initiative, RU Green, originated as a student-led effort through the Student Government Association with the support of the administration, faculty and staff. The vision of RU Green is to incorporate the concepts and practices of sustainability into the academic, administrative and daily life of Reinhardt University so the University’s students, faculty and staff act as responsible stewards of the environment. RU Green is a continuing process of integration and will be accomplished through resource management, community education, and increased curricular emphasis.