University participates in world-wide recycling initiative

Undeclared freshman Travis Bartos recycles some plastic bottles on Monday outside Kalpana Chawla Hall in a recyling bin. Universities throughout the country are participating in a contest called RecycleMania that started on January 17th and will continue until March 27th. (The Shorthorn: Michael Minasi)

The university is participating in a nationwide recycling contest to help the environment as part of the campus-wide going green initiative.

RecycleMania is a competition for college and university programs to promote waste reduction activities in a 10-week period.

Over 500 colleges are participating in the competition, including colleges in Canada and Qatar. The program started on Jan. 17 and will run through March 27.

The competition is based on weights provided by the participating schools. UTA first participated in 2007 and ranked 52nd in the nation last year.

Brazos House received $350 for winning RecycleMania within the campus last year and bought T-shirts for the residents. The residents hosted a fashion show using recycled materials and created beads from magazines to make bracelets and necklaces.

Brazos House residence assistant Kelsey Jackson said the house started recycling last week for this year’s competition.

For Recyclemania 2010, Jackson will organize field trips for residents to visit the compost site on campus. A sustainability speaker will come to the house to educate residents about how the campus is going green. In February, the residents will go to Mission Arlington to pick up trash and help the community.

Jackson said the most important part of the contest is to educate residents about recycling.

“This year I am excited about promoting the RecycleMania,” she said. “It will be a challenge to step up from the last year but we are going to be on the top.”

Lira Polanco, Lipscomb Hall Council secretary, said every room has recycle bins. The students bring cans, bottles and paper to the Lipscomb Hall office in exchange for Lipscomb Dollars, which are used to obtain prizes such as school supplies, ear phones, bags and gift cards.

RecycleMania Competition

When: Jan. 17-March 27 Log on to www.recyclmania.org to get complete rules and details

“Recycling is our tradition,” Polanco said. “I encourage residents to recycle. Recycling reduces the use of cutting down trees, overuse of electricity and plastic bottles that are in the landfills. I do a lot of recycling.”

Aerospace engineering freshman Ramy Dajeh, said he recycles and thinks it saves energy.

“Recycling is a good process to help the environment,” Dajeh said. “It is helpful for people to create a better world in the future.”

Sustainability director Meghna Tare said her goal is to reduce the university’s carbon footprint, resolve parking and transportation problems, and educate about sustainability issues.

“I want more awareness and participation,” she said. “This event is meant to educate people.”

Recycling coordinator Becky Valentich said all UTA residence halls and apartments are participating in RecycleMania. Valentich turns in weekly weights of recycled materials that she receives from the university recycling contractor.

“I would like the students to be more aware of recycling and environmental issues that we face on campus,” she said.

Students can follow Tare on Twitter and give her ideas and opinions about her initiatives.