Clemson University Competes in 2013 Recyclemania Tournament

Clemson University is working to be a little more green as it competes with more than 500 other colleges in the 2013 RecycleMania Tournament to see which can reduce, reuse and recycle the most waste in an eight-week period.

Clemson will enter data on paper, cardboard, cans and bottles, food waste and general trash generated each week until March 30. The information collected will determine which school recycles most on a per capita basis, produces the least waste and recycles the largest percentage of its waste.

Clemson also is participating in a new RecycleMania category, Game Day: Basketball, in which schools are challenged to increase recycling and reduce waste at a single home game. Clemson’s is Sunday, Feb. 17, against Miami.

During Sustainability Week Monday-Friday, Feb. 18-22, there will be building competitions around campus, giveaways and prizes. 

“Clemson University takes great pride in our sustainability efforts. We can showcase our efforts through RecycleMania,” said Dave VanDeventer, Clemson’s recycling manager.

“RecycleMania is about more than simply winning,” he said. “It is an opportunity for us to raise awareness about our campus recycling program, as well as waste-reduction and conservation issues in general. Understandably, it’s also about recycling more.”

Last year Clemson placed fourth nationally in the Most Improved Paper Recycling category, which measures how much schools increase paper recycling during the competition. Clemson’s paper recycling increased 88 percent.

Clemson also placed first among South Carolina colleges and among ACC schools in the Waste Minimization category, which focuses on the efforts to reduce the amount of waste generated, including recyclables.

Clemson received the Judge’s Award in the 2012 RecycleMania video competition with its “Spirit of Recycling” entry.

RecycleMania draws participants from 47 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.