NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University has emerged as the top contender among colleges and universities nationwide in recycling electronic items this spring. The final tally of the 2024 competition reveals that Northwest secured first place in the category of Electronics Recycling Per Capita. The university recycled 3.9 pounds per capita, submitting a total of 20,343 pounds, equivalent to over 10 tons. The recycled items encompassed batteries, lamps, televisions, monitors, laptops and other computer equipment.

The university initiated its participation in the annual competition back in 2005 with an aim to promote awareness about campus recycling and waste reduction. “We were delighted to receive notification of our first-place finish in the Electronics Per Capita Recycling Category, particularly because this was the first time we participated in that category," said Tim Hill, Northwest's sustainability coordinator. "Even more importantly, we kept more than 10 tons of potentially hazardous e-waste out of the landfill.”

In other categories, Northwest ranked No. 32 in waste diversion with a rate of 38.3 percent and No. 47 in minimizing food waste.

Over 2.7 million college students and employees across the country joined forces in this eight-week competition aimed at reducing campus waste footprints. Together, these higher education institutions managed to keep over 105 million single-use plastic containers out of landfills and prevent the release of 23,174 metric tons equivalent of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – comparable to avoiding the annual emissions from 5,515 cars. These institutions donated composted and recycled a total exceeding 30.7 million pounds of waste.

“This year’s college and university competition participants made enormous strides on waste reduction and integrating sustainable practices throughout their campuses,” Kristy Jones, director of higher education programs at National Wildlife Federation commented. “These collective actions to reduce schools’ waste footprints are inspiring and are making a tangible positive impact on the environment.”

Formerly known as RecycleMania, Campus Race to Zero Waste is the leading waste reduction and recycling competition among colleges and universities in the nation. Managed by National Wildlife Federation and governed by RecycleMania Inc., Campus Race to Zero Waste has been assisting campuses in minimizing waste and enhancing their recycling efforts since its inception in 2001.

Participating colleges and universities reported the amount of waste and recycling they collected each week. The institutions were then ranked in various categories based on the amount they recycled per capita as well as recycling rates. The competition categories included food organics, electronics recycling, and percent of waste diverted from the landfill.