YSU again top in state for recycling

For the fifth year in a row, Youngstown State University is number one in the Buckeye State in the annual RecycleMania competition, an eight-week national contest to see which colleges and universities reduce, reuse and recycle the most on-campus waste.

YSU finished first in the state with a recycling rate of 62 percent. Ohio University placed second with a rate of 55 percent, followed by University of Dayton at 47 percent. Kent State University, University of Mount Union, Case Western Reserve University, Hocking College, The Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, and The University of Akron also participated in RecycleMania this year.

YSU’s rate ranked 13^th in the nation this year, last year’s rate was 21st in the nation.

Dan Kuzma, manager of YSU’s recycling programs, said the university saved 214,824 pounds, an increase of 13,688 pounds over last year, of recyclables from ending up in the landfill during the eight-week campaign.

“RecycleMania campaign is a fun way to engage the campus community and illustrates the successes of the YSU Recycling Program,” he said. “Our program is a model for other institutions and has been used as a benchmark for hospitals, prisons and other colleges and universities in the state.”

The 2018 tournament ranked 170 schools in 37 states in the United States, the District of Columbia and Canada, based on recycling rates.

Colleges and universities are ranked in various categories according to how much recycling and food waste they divert from the landfill over two months. The competition started Feb. 4 and ran through March 31.

In addition to paper, publications, cardboard, cans and bottles, YSU also recycles obsolete computers and electronics, toner cartridges, batteries, tires, pallets and scrap metal. Kuzma said the university also composts organics such as food and yard waste.

For more information, visit www.recyclemania.org.