Get ready to Reduce, Reuse and then Recycle in February and March! Kent State is competing in Campus Race to Zero Waste, an international waste reduction and recycling competition for colleges and universities. Over 300 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada compete every year to see who can recycle the most, who can produce the least amount of waste and more. There are four main competition categories in Campus Race to Zero Waste: Diversion, Per Capita Recycling, Zero Waste and Food Organics.
Everyone’s collective actions on campus—reducing, reusing and recycling—prevent waste from going into landfills and contribute to Kent State's Campus Race to Zero Waste standings. Kent State’s Grind2Energy system collects food scraps for anaerobic digestion in Eastway and the DI Hub diverts about 3.5 tons of food scraps from the landfill every week during the competition. Food donations by Flashes Fighting Hunger and the CARES Center programs of University Dining also contribute to Kent State’s standings.
Electronics Recycling is a special competition category during Campus Race to Zero Waste. Kent State hosts a free electronics recycling drive that is open to students, faculty, staff and the community. Electronics recycling will be open on Mar. 1, 8, 15, and 22 from 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Kent State R-17 Parking lot, between S. Willow Street and S. Lincoln Street. Members of both the campus and community can recycle used electronics through Infinite Electronics Recycling, LLC, an R2-certified recycler, where materials are handled in an environmentally and socially responsible way. E-Cycle Drive is hosted by Kent State’s University Facilities Management and the Office of Sustainability.
Kent State also has Hall-vs-Hall Competitions, where University Housing residence halls compete to see who recycled the most per person for a chance to earn $200, Hall Council HOTS Points or a tree planting. Custodial staff have a chance to be recognized by their supervisors in the custodian award.
Everyone on the Kent Campus is a participant in Campus Race to Zero Waste. Follow the Office of Sustainability on social media for recycling tips, weekly updates and more.
Click here to visit the Sustainability website and learn more!