UConn’s rankings in Recyclemania, the 10-week-long national competition to reduce waste in college campuses across the country, continue to decline, according to the competition’s official Web site.
In the Big East division, UConn is ranked fifth out of 11 schools, a step down from last week when UConn held onto fourth.
Emily Galanto, an 8th-semester environmental science major and co-coordinator of EcoHusky, believes the decline might have something to do with students being unfamiliar with what items are recyclable.
The university will accept plastics No. 1 through No. 7, which includes plastic nacho containers, bowls and plates from the Fireside Grill and the plastic tops of fountain soda cups.
"When in doubt, just recycle it,” said Galanto.
In the Grand Champion division, UConn has fallen 10 places from 201st to 211th out of 264 schools.
UConn fell six places to 114 place in the Per Capita Classic division which takes into consideration the amount that is recycled per person.
In six weeks, almost five pounds of recyclables per person have been recorded.
Almost 30 pounds of trash per person has been recorded over the past six weeks, which has landed UConn in the 165th spot out of 197 schools in the Waste Minimization division, which measures how little waste is made per person.
The only improvement for week six occurred in the Gorilla Prize division, which measures the gross tonnage of recyclables in the competition.
With 130,180 pounds of recyclables over the course of the competition, UConn has improved two spots to grab the 42 spot of 343 schools.
Galanto reminds all students that blue bins for paper and green bins for plastics are located near most garbage cans around campus. She also admits that the holes can be misleading.
“Even if it doesn’t fit in the holes on the lid, just the lift the lid,” said Galanto.
Galanto also said that recycling saves the university money, as UConn receives a $20 credit off trash hauling fees for every ton that is recycled on campus.
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