UW-Eau Claire news release

EAU CLAIRE — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is joining college and university recycling programs across the country in an annual spring semester competition to reduce waste, increase recycling and raise awareness about environmental issues.

UW-Eau Claire's Student National Environmental Health Association, the campus Conservationists, Housing and Residence Life, and the Student Office of Sustainability are coordinating the 10-week RecycleMania competition, which runs from Jan. 22-March 31.

RecycleMania began in 2001 as a friendly contest between Ohio University and Miami University to increase recycling on their campuses during college basketball season. The competition expanded rapidly to include colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. In 2007, UW-Eau Claire took fourth in the nation for greatest waste minimization.

While RecycleMania is UW-Eau Claire's only campuswide recycling competition, several other initiatives are under way on campus to reduce waste and create a greener university, organizers said.

Examples of other university waste reduction initiatives include:

• Implementing e-waste receptacles to promote sustainability through convenient access to electronic disposal.
• Installing water filling stations to promote reusable water bottle use.
• Installing campuswide duplex printers to reduce the use of paper.
• Educating employees and students about waste minimization practices.
  
  

For details about RecycleMania, contact Amy Zagar at zagaral@uwec.edu or 715-892-1168, or visit the RecycleMania website.

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CC/JB/DW