Grand Valley ranks high in composting category of national competition

Grand Valley ranked first in the state and in the top 15 nationwide (for universities with more than 20,000 students) in the composting category of the nationwide recycling contest Recyclemania.

The eight-week competition aims to reduce waste and increase student awareness about the importance of recycling. More than 300 colleges and universities participated in the competition that took place February 7-April 11.

Grand Valley also ranked 55th in the nation in the waste minimization category, compared to 80th place in 2015. The category is based on producing the least amount of recyclables, food organics and trash on a per-person basis.

In total, 221,986 pounds were recycled during the two-month span of the competition. In one year, from July 2014-June 2015, more than 2.7 million pounds of materials were recycled, a 31 percent increase from June 2013-July 2014.

Janet Aubil, operations supervisor for Facilities Services, said students, faculty and staff members are making recycling a normal part of their day-to-day activities. She said an additional compost bin was added to the Allendale Campus in the fall and another will be added this summer to encourage the campus community to continue to compost and reduce waste. 

Learn more about Grand Valley’s recycling efforts at www.gvsu.edu/facilitiesservices/allendale/gvsu-recycling-program-18.htm.

This is the eighth year Grand Valley has competed in Recyclemania. Campus Dining, Housing, Office of Sustainability Practices and Pew Campus Operations helped Facilities Services during the contest.