U of A in Second Place in PepsiCo's National Campus Recycling Challenge

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PepsiCo Dream Machine

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas is a strong number 2 in the PepsiCo Campus Recycling Challenge, with two months left in the competition. The U of A has been in second place since the contest started in October, and will need a major push to get to the top spot. The Challenge ends on March 31.

The U of A is one of 28 schools entered in the contest. The campuses are all competing to see how many aluminum cans and plastic bottles can be deposited for recycling in their PepsiCo Dream Machines from October, 2014 through the end of March. The campus that shows the greatest percentage increase in Dream Machine recycling over the previous year will be the winner.

There are two Dream Machines in the Arkansas Union -- one at the front entrance of the Union, and the other inside next to the Razorback shop. The program is being managed by Arkansas Union staff and at last count U of A Dream Machine recycling had increased by 66 percent.

The first place winner will take home a prize of $25,000 towards a campus wide concert sponsored by Pepsi. The second place prize is $15,000 for a campus wide pizza party, and the third place campus will get $5,000 worth of Pepsi beverages during finals.

“Every time you recycle with the Dream Machine you get personal reward points that go towards prizes for you,” said Cameron Baker, director of sustainability for the Associated Student Government. “At the same time you are improving the U of A’s chance to win the Challenge – and you are keeping cans and bottles out of the landfill. It’s a win-win-win.”

Recycling through the Dream Machines also counts in a second contest the university is trying to win – RecycleMania. That one started February 1, ends March 28 and includes all types of recycling on campus: paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal, and even electronics. Recycling drives are going on in the residence halls, university classroom and office buildings, and includes all of the other recycling bins at the Arkansas Union.

Students, faculty and staff from hundreds of universities and colleges are competing in this year’s RecycleMania. Last year the U of A recycled 240,000 pounds of material. The Office for Sustainability, which is coordinating this year’s campaign, is aiming to top that amount.

“These contests are an important part of the university’s goal to reach zero waste by 2021,” said Carlos Ochoa, Jr., director of the Office for Sustainability. “They get people thinking about recycling, start to get them in the habit, and the competition is something the whole campus can get involved in, have fun with.”