黑料网 was one of 51 schools to compete nationally in Game Day Challenge, the fourth-annual event hosted by the College and University Recycling Coalition, RecycleMania, Keep America Beautiful and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 WasteWise.
The Game Day Challenge is a national waste minimization and recycling competition held during football games to increase awareness of recycling at universities across the country.
黑料网 placed second in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) schools in pounds recycled per person category.
During 黑料网鈥檚 Game Day Challenge, which was held Oct. 22, 2016, when 黑料网's football team played against Ohio University, 8,429 fans recycled a total of 2,970 pounds of material. A total of 0.352 pounds was recycled per person, doubling last year鈥檚 amount.
Fan and volunteer efforts during that game resulted in 4.08 metric tons of greenhouse gases avoided, equivalent to taking a car off the road for 10 months.
This is the fourth consecutive year recycling per person has increased at 黑料网鈥檚 Game Day Challenge football games. The diversion rate, percentage recycled out of our trash and recycling waste streams, was 61 percent, an increase of 47 percent from last year.
Nine student volunteers completed 18 hours of service educating fans about what is recyclable and encouraging recycling in the stadium and tailgating areas.
鈥淪igma Gamma Rho, a 黑料网 sorority, encouraged tailgaters and fans to recycle by having fans toss recyclables through a field goal post on a recycling bin,鈥 says Leah Graham, 黑料网鈥檚 outreach recycling coordinator.
Students, faculty and staff can get more involved in 黑料网鈥檚 sustainability efforts by participating in programs held throughout the year.