NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University has once again excelled in a national competition aimed at reducing campus waste. For the second year running, the university claimed the top spot in the Electronics Recycling Per Capita category, recycling 2.3 pounds per capita and submitting nearly 15,500 pounds of electronic items. These items included batteries, lamps, televisions, monitors, laptops, and other computer equipment.

The university's efforts are part of its annual participation in the Campus Race to Zero Waste competition. This initiative encourages colleges and universities across the nation to minimize waste and enhance recycling practices. Tim Hill, Northwest’s environmental sustainability coordinator, emphasized the importance of this event: “Each year, we hope the Campus Race to Zero Waste reminds everyone on campus to reduce waste and recycle whenever possible,” he said. “Winning the Electronics Recycling Per Capita category is a testament to Northwest’s longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship.”

In addition to their success in electronics recycling, Northwest also ranked No. 22 in minimizing food waste, No. 48 in waste diversion, and No. 68 in per capita recycling overall.

The Campus Race to Zero Waste competition was formerly known as RecycleMania and is managed by the National Wildlife Federation along with RecycleMania Inc. It serves as a platform for educational institutions to report their weekly waste and recycling collection figures over an eight-week period each spring.

Since its inception in 2001, Campus Race to Zero Waste has been instrumental in helping campuses improve their waste management strategies. Northwest Missouri State University began participating in this annual challenge back in 2005.

Participating institutions are ranked based on various categories such as food organics, electronics recycling, and landfill diversion rates.