> About Recyclemania

RecycleMania is a friendly competition among college and university recycling programs in the United States and Canada. For 10 weeks, campuses compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. In the end, RecycleMania helps all participating colleges and universities make achievements in recycling and waste reduction!

See more at www.recyclemania.org.

 

> Recycling Facts

Learn more about recycling and how it can help preserve our resources with some recycling facts.

 

> Media Coverage

Read the media coverage of Penn Recyclemania, and find more pictures from our events.

 

> FAQ

Frequently asked questions for students in on-campus residences

Frequently asked questions for Penn staff



> Contact Us

Got questions? Got great ideas?

Let us know!

Want to help?

Let us know how!

 

As the human population grows and our demand for natural resources increases, more and more habitats are devastated. Today, we may be losing 30,000 species a year -- a rate much faster than at any time since the last great extinction 65 million years ago that wiped out most of the dinosaurs. If we continue on this course, we will destroy even ourselves.

- American Museum of Natural History


Recyclemania Trophy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rankings Chart

Upcoming Events

> Thursday, 1/1/09 - 12:00 PM

Recyclemania 2009

(University of Pennsylvania)

 

Stop. Think. Recycle.

The most important thing you can do is take individual action. The RecycleMania team will report the collective efforts of the University each week in total waste and total recycling. So the more you recycle, the more impact you can have. And the less waste you create the better!

Know where to recycle.

Each College House and residence has a place to put trash and recycling. Make sure you put the right items in the right place. If you have questions, ask your RA, GA, SA or House Dean.

 

Educate yourself.

Know what can be recycled. You can recycle paper and glass-cans-plastics, known as co-mingled.

Consider packaging when making purchases.

Don’t use plastic bags unless you really need them. Use reusable bags.

Carry a reusable mug and water bottle.

Educate others.

Talk to others about recycling and waste reduction. Encourage your hallmates and suite mates.
Click here for posters you can use!
Penn's Pledge: Read it. Sign it.

News from Recyclemania@Penn

Recyclemania 2008 Results

posted by Christopher Bogs on April 17, 2008

Drivin' o' the Green

PhillyCarShare on campus March 17!

Look for the PhillyCarShare Green Men on campus St. Patrick's Day and get your "Kiss me, I car share" driving credits and green Hershey Kisses! (Not a PhillyCarShare member? Stop by the Penn Bookstore on the 17th and sign up for your free Penn account!)

posted by Christopher Bogs on March 13, 2008

Behind the Scenes at Blue Mountain Recycling

These students got a close-up look at what happens to all that stuff Penn's been recycling during Recyclemania when they took a field trip this week to Blue Mountain Recycling. Blue Mountain, located in southwest Philly, is the recycling facility that Penn contracts with. Blue Mountain's "single-stream" recycling technology is what keeps the Penn community from having to sort our recyclables as thoroughly as some others do: their advanced system is the only one in the eastern U.S. that can do it, making it an ideal choice for Penn's huge recyclables output (211,685 pounds in the first four weeks of Recyclemania!)

posted by Christopher Bogs on March 5, 2008

Love Stinks — and so does garbage

The Rooftop Lounge at Rodin College House was packed on Valentine's Day for a Recyclemania-themed Quizzo, hosted by the Residential Advisory Board (RAB). CHAS' Troy Majnerick emceed the event and the winning team walked away with $300 in gift certificates for the Penn Bookstore, courtesy of Penn Dining. The second-place team won a $100 gift certificate (donated by the Penn Bookstore), and others won tickets to Penn Basketball games.

The Penn Pledge banner was there as well, and people who signed the pledge were entered into a raffle to win a new iPod Nano courtesy of Computer Connection. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who made this event a success!

posted by Christopher Bogs on February 15, 2008

1920 Commons Mural, Recyclemania-style

Students from Penn Environmental Group (PEG) painted the walls at Class of 1920 Commons this week, promoting Recyclemania and sustainability with their own original mural artwork. Check out the pics below, and be sure to stop by to see it in person! Other painting projects have included turning the walls of some of the College House trash rooms a bright green, to remind everyone to recycle whatever they can, to protect our environment AND blow our Recyclemania competition away.

posted by Christopher Bogs on February 13, 2008

Penn Pledge Unrolled at Houston Hall

Students and faculty alike lined up to sign Penn's Recycling Pledge at Houston Hall yesterday. Members of Penn Environmental Group (PEG) handed out free Nalgene bottles with the Recyclemania logo on them to the first signers of the Pledge, and even President Amy Gutmann stopped by to add her signature to the Pledge.

If you haven't had a chance to sign the banner, keep a watch on this website for the next opportunity to take the pledge -- or you can sign it online. It takes each one of us to make a difference, and pledging to do your part can help change our planet for the better!

More: See the DP coverage here.

posted by Christopher Bogs on February 13, 2008

NEWS FLASH: Trash Mountain Towers Over Campus

Well, "towers" might be a bit of an overstatement, but when you pile up a day's worth of trash and recycling from just 500 residents of one of Penn's College Houses, it makes a pretty big geographical feature! Ben looks pretty impressed, as do these students.

Remembering that when you throw something away it doesn't just "go away", but gets added to a mountain in a landfill, may help you remember to recycle whatever you can -- and make the mountain into more of a molehill.

posted by Christopher Bogs on February 13, 2008

Welcome to Recyclemania at Penn!

Welcome to RecycleMania at Penn - our first entry into the national collegiate competition to see who can do the most to recycle and reduce waste on their campus!

Watch this space for weekly reports of our progress and information on campus and house events for RecycleMania.

STOP. THINK. RECYCLE.

posted by Christopher Bogs on January 4, 2008