Campus Race to Zero Waste
An annual contest each spring to reduce the University’s waste footprint
The University of Rochester joins millions of college students and staff across the country in an annual competition to reduce the campus waste footprint through minimization efforts by donating, composting, and recycling.
About the program
Campus Race to Zero Waste—formerly known as RecycleMania—is the nation’s premier waste reduction and recycling competition among colleges and universities. The program has been helping campuses minimize waste and improve their recycling efforts since launching in 2001.
2024 Campus Race to Zero Waste
This year’s nationwide competition took place from January 28–March 23. Stay tuned for future event dates, which will be posted to this website!
2023 Campus Race to Zero Waste results
Facilities Team Green collaborated with other student groups to promote the competition. Highlights included a kick-off event, a Valentine’s Day photo booth, a Caught Green-Handed campaign, and a screening of Love Thy Nature. Visit UR Sustainable on Facebook for photos.
The University’s scores
- Diversion Category: ranked 66 out of 91, with a waste diversion rate of 21.8%
- Per Capita Classic: ranked 24 out of 107, collecting 15.0 pounds per person
- Organics: ranked 23 out of 34, collecting 65 total points
Check out the 2023 competition results and winners.