Last year 4.7 million students and 1.1 million faculty and staff from 510 participating campuses collectively recycled or composted just over 69.4 million pounds of waste during the 10-week RecycleMania competition.

This “friendly” competition pits colleges and universities in a contest with cross town rivals and schools across the nation to see who can reduce, reuse, and recycle the most campus waste. It offers bragging rights and special awards made out of recycled materials to the winning schools.

Registration for the competition runs now through January 14 and is open to students, student organizations, staff, faculty or facility managers at degree-granting colleges and universities and runs now through January 14.

Registration is fast and easy and can be done online at RecycleMania or by contacting the RecycleMania helpline at 843-278-7686.

The contest begins January 17 and continues through March 27, 2010. Last year participating schools represented all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and for the first time, Canada.

RecycleMania uses the competitive spirit and campus rivalries to motivate students who might not respond to other environmental messages. Though many schools have had recycling and waste prevention programs for years, studies have found that large volumes of recyclables still end up in the trash.

RecycleMania raises both awareness and, at more than 80 percent of participating schools, increases recycling levels.

With each week’s reports and rankings, participating schools can watch how their program stacks up against their competitors. They can watch as the results fluctuate, and determine how to rally their campus communities to reduce and recycle even more.

Starting with the 2009 competition, RecycleMania added both Myspace and FaceBook websites. The 2010 Facebook site is under construction. These sites also allow RecycleMania coordinators to network and share promotional ideas.

RecycleMania is a project of the College and University Recycling Council and is supported by U.S. EPA’s WasteWise Program as well as by Keep America Beautiful.

For complete rules, information and to register go to the RecycleMania website or call RecycleMania’s helpline at 843-278-7686.

Information for those wishing to participate in RecycleMania is also available from Donna McGowan, recycling program manager for U.S. EPA mid-Atlantic region, at 215-814-5197 or send email to: mcgowan.donna@epa.gov.