SMU leads Texas private schools in per capita recycling competition

SMU took a first place among Texas private universities in the annual RecycleMania competition.

SMU Recycles

By Kim Cobb
SMU News

DALLAS (SMU) – Aggressive recycling by students, faculty and staff pushed SMU to first place among Texas private colleges and universities in the annual RecycleMania competition’s per capita category, amassing a whopping 18.15 pounds of recyclable material per person over the eight-week competition.

SMU placed second among all 22 Texas colleges and universities in the per capita category, and in the top 15 percent nationwide when the results were measured against the 363 colleges and universities competing in that category. This was the 11th year for RecycleMania, and only the second year that SMU has entered the competition division.

“I want to thank everyone on campus for their participation,” said Eric English, SMU Environmental Manager and co-chair of the SMU Sustainability Committee. “Since this was only our second year in the competition division, I believe you all should give yourselves a big round of applause. I can’t wait until next year.”

Results in the various RecycleMania categories were measured for eight weeks, from February 6 to April 2. The tournament started with two pre-season reporting weeks beginning January 23, meaning that RecycleMania was a 10-week experience for participating colleges and universities.

SMU collected 119 tons of recyclable material during this year’s competition, compared to 78 tons collected during the 10-week period last year. SMU’s Sustainability Committee also sponsored an inter-campus recycling competition during RecycleMania, resulting in these winners in three categories:

  • Residence Hall Winner: Perkins Hall
  • Academic/Athletic Facility Winner: Bridwell Library
  • Area/School Winner: Central Library

RecycleMania began in February 2001 with a competition between Ohio University and Miami University to increase recycling in the residence and dinning halls on their campuses. By this year’s competition, 630 colleges and universities registered to participate – 391 of those in the Competition Division.

And the Final Results are:

Per Capita:

  1. Texas Private Schools — SMU placed 1st out  of 7 Schools.
  2. Texas All Schools — SMU placed 2nd out of 22 Schools.
  3. Conference USA — SMU placed 2nd out of 8 Schools.
  4. Nationally — SMU placed 54th of 363 Schools, which places SMU in the top 15% Nationally of all Schools

Targeted Material (Cardboard):

  1. Texas Private Schools — SMU placed 2nd out  of 5 Schools.
  2. Texas All Schools — SMU placed 3rd out of 5 Schools.
  3. Conference USA — SMU placed 4th out of 15 Schools.
  4. Nationally — SMU placed 159  of 230 Schools.

 SMU collected a total of 119 tons of recyclables compared to 78 tons last year.

SMU Saved Environment for the 10 week period of RecycleMania:

  • Energy – 487,900KWh
  • Water – 833,00 gallons
  • Landfill Space – 357 cubic yards
  • Trees – 2,023
  • Air Pollutants – 7,140 pounds

 SMU Community recycled 18.15 pounds of recycle per person.

The Competition 

Texas Private Universities:
Rank School Name Cumulative Recyclables
Pounds/Person
1 Southern Methodist University 18.15
2 Rice University 10.03
3 Trinity University 9.09
4 Baylor University 8.45
5 University of the Incarnate Word 4.33
6 University of St Thomas 4.16
7 Houston Baptist University 2.29
All Texas Universities:
Rank School Name Cumulative Recyclables
Pounds/Person
1 The University of Texas Medical Branch 24.45
2 Southern Methodist University 18.15
3 Rice University 10.03
4 Richland College 9.29
5 Trinity University 9.09
6 Baylor University 8.45
7 The University of Texas at Dallas 7.14
8 The University of Texas at Austin 6.10
9 The University of Texas at San Antonio 5.22
10 University of Houston 4.89
11 Texas A & M University 4.65
12 University of the Incarnate Word 4.33
13 University of St Thomas 4.16
14 The University of Texas at Arlington 3.44
15 University of North Texas 3.34
16 Mountain View College 2.91
17 Texas State University-San Marcos 2.82
18 Houston Baptist University 2.29
19 Lone Star College-Kingwood 2.11
20 Tarrant County College District 1.21
21 North Lake College 1.04
22 Eastfield College 0.78

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SMU is a nationally ranked private university in Dallas founded 100 years ago. Today, SMU enrolls nearly 11,000 students who benefit from the academic opportunities and international reach of seven degree-granting schools.

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