Flint Colleges Compete for Cash in Recycling Challenge

Four local colleges, Baker College, University of Michigan-Flint, Kettering University, and Mott Community College will be competing again in the second annual Recycling Challenge.  The purpose is to encourage recycling on all four campuses while making it a fun, friendly competition.

The Recycling Challenge will be a little different than last year's competition in that the recycling trailer or "roll-off" container will be available to accept recyclables on each of the four campuses from March 1 to March 31.  Recyclables being collected are:  mixed paper, cardboard, plastics 1-7, and metal.

Lora Rometsch of the University of Michigan-Flint and co-coordinator of the event says "our campus has had a well-developed recycling program in place for many years…  This friendly competition between colleges helps encourage others in our Flint community and on campus to recycle. It is easy to participate.  I am confident that the students, staff, and faculty will step up and recycle even more than last year!"

Nate Scramlin, Solid Waste Planner at the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission says "this contest is right in line with the Genesee County Solid Waste Management Plan and its goal of reducing the amount of local waste we throw in area landfills. Any time we can divert waste from the landfill to the recycling facility, I'm a big fan."

This year the event is sponsored by Waste Management Inc. and Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission.  Waste Management Inc. is providing the recycling containers and transporting the recyclable material to their "Recycle America" recycling facility in Saginaw, Michigan.  The material will be sorted, weighed, and sent to end markets for reuse.

Two prizes will be awarded: one prize goes to the college who recycled the most materials by weight; and the other prize goes to the college who recycled the most pounds per student enrolled.  The two winners will split the prize money generated from the rebate received from the materials collected and recycled.

The winners will be announced at the annual Earth Day Celebration, on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Michigan-Flint.  For more information on the annual Earth Day Celebration, please visit the website at www.earthday.mcc.edu or call (810) 766-6763.