Past Results

2023 Competition Highlights:

• 4 million students, faculty and staff reached
• 200 colleges and university participants from 40 U.S. states and Canada
• 29.4 million pounds of waste donated, composted and recycled
• 205 million single-use plastics kept out of the landfill
• Participants prevented the release of 29,108 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere, which is equal to avoiding the annual emissions from 6,128 cars

2023 Competition Winners:

Zero Waste Category:

• Small campus: Macalester College, Minnesota
• Medium: No campuses named in this category for the 2023 competition
• Large campus: California State University, Dominguez Hills, California
  • 2^ndPlace: Kent State University, Ohio

Food Organics Category:

• Small campus: Macalester College, Minnesota
  • 2^ndPlace: Aquinas College, Michigan
• Medium campus: Loyola Marymount University, California
  • 2^ndPlace: Bowling Green State University, Ohio
• Large campus: Stanford University, California
  • 2^ndPlace: American University, District of Columbia

Diversion Category:

• Small campus: Macalester College, Minnesota
  • 2^ndPlace: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
• Medium campus: Loyola Marymount University, California
  • 2^ndPlace: Youngstown State University, Ohio
• Large campus: University of Ottawa, Canada
  • 2^ndPlace: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Per Capita Recycling Category:

• Small campus: Neumann University, Pennsylvania
  • 2^ndPlace: Coe College, Iowa
• Medium campus: Loyola Marymount University, California
  • 2^ndPlace: Wilkes University, Pennsylvania
• Large campus: Boston College, Massachusetts
  • 2^ndPlace: Stanford University, California

 GameDay Basketball Category:

• Diversion category: The Ohio State University, Ohio
• Per Capita Recycling category: University of Southern California, California

 Race to Zero Waste – One Building Challenge Category:

• Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania

Electronics Recycling Category: 

• Per Capita Recycling category: Black Hills State University, South Dakota
• Total Pounds Recycled category: Rutgers University, New Jersey

Case Study Category:

• Zero Waste Winner: Valparaiso University, Indiana 
• Waste Diversion Winner: Macalester College, Minnesota
• Food Waste Reduction Winner: The Ohio State University, Ohio
• Education and Awareness Winner: Towson University, Maryland

Communication Resources:

• CR2ZW 2023 Final Results National Press Release
• CR2ZW 2023 School Template Press Release
• CR2ZW 2023 Final Results Blog
• CR2ZW 2023: 2023 Case Study Blog
• CR2ZW 2023 Impact One-Pager
• CR2ZW 2023 College & University Participant Poster
• CR2ZW 2023 Impact Infographic
• CR2ZW 2023 Wildlife Impact Infographic

Final 2023 Reports:

• Zero Waste
• Food Organics
• Diversion
• Per Capita Recycling
• Electronics
• GameDay Basketball
• Race to Zero Waste - One Building Challenge

During the 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition:

• 6 million students and staff were reached from more than 200 colleges and universities
• 200 million plastic containers were kept out of the landfill
• 27.9 million pounds of waste was donated, composted and recycled
• Campuses prevented the release of 30,228 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E) into the atmosphere, equivalent to preventing annual emissions from 6,376 cars

Top-Ranking Campuses

Zero Waste:

• Western Colorado University, Colorado (Small)
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Large)

Food Organics:

• Wofford College, South Carolina (Small)
• Loyola Marymount University, California (Medium)
• Central Michigan University, Michigan (Large)

Diversion:

• Macalester College, Minnesota (Small)
• Loyola Marymount University, California (Medium)
• University of Louisville, Kentucky (Large)

Per Capita Recycling:

• Coe College, Iowa (Small)
• Loyola Marymount University, California(Medium)
• Stanford University, California (Large)

Special Categories:

• Race to Zero Waste – One Building Challenge – Aquinas College, Michigan
• GameDay Basketball Per Capita – University of the Incarnate Word, Texas
• GameDay Basketball Diversion – University of Southern California, California
• Electronics Recycling Per Capita – Bryant University, Rhode Island
• Electronics Total Amount Recycled – Cornell University, New York

Note: College and university size categories based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

2022 Case Study Competition Winners:

Waste Minimization Winner: Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University’s Fix-it Fair Mending Workshop repairs items and teaches attendees how to mend clothing, resulting in reducing waste by keeping these items out of the landfill.  

Food Waste Reduction Winner: Chapman University, California

Chapman University increases awareness about post-consumer waste by collecting all the uneaten food from Randall Dining Commons for a lunch period and weighing it.

Education and Awareness Winner: University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh hosts the Zero Waste Period program to advance menstrual equity on campus, sharing information about the physical and environmental health aspects of period products. 

Summary of Waste Reduction Efforts Winner: University of Nebraska, Lincoln

University of Nebraska Lincoln designs and implements a pilot project focused on standardizing recycling efforts on campus to reduce waste and improve recycling. 

Communication and Outreach Materials:

• CR2ZW 2022 National Press Release
• CR2ZW 2022 Press Release Template for Schools
• CR2ZW 2022 Impact Flier
• CR2ZW 2022 Impact Infographic
• CR2ZW 2022 Campus Poster
• CR2ZW 2022 Final Results Blog
• 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste Case Studies blog.
• 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste Case Study National Press Release.

Final 2022 Reports:

• Zero Waste
• Food Organics
• Diversion
• Per Capita Recycling
• Electronics
• GameDay Basketball
• Race to Zero Waste - One Building Challenge

2021 Competition by the Numbers

During the 2021 Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition:

• 9 million students and staff were reached from more than 200 colleges and universities. 
• 230 million plastic containers were kept out of the landfill.
• Campuses prevented the release of 30,669 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E) into the atmosphere, equivalent to preventing annual emissions from 6,463 cars.
• 25.8 million pounds of waste was donated, recycled and composted. 

Top-Ranking Campuses

Zero Waste category:

• Kent State University at Kent, Ohio (*only one campus was awarded in this category because all participating campuses were large campuses.

Food Organics category:

• Small campus – Macalester College, Minnesota
• Medium campus – University of North Carolina Asheville, North Carolina
• Large campus – University of California Irvine, California

Diversion category:

• Small campus – Macalester College, Minnesota
• Medium campus – Seattle University, Washington
• Large campus – Grand Valley State University, Michigan

Per Capita category:

• Small campus – Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island
• Medium campus – Wilkes University, Pennsylvania
• Large campus – Stanford University, California

Race to Zero Waste – One Building challenge:

• Aquinas College, Michigan

Electronics Recycling category:

• Per Capita category – Southwestern College, Kansas
• Total Pounds Recycled category – Kent State University at Kent, Ohio

Note: College and university size categories based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Case Study category:

Waste Minimization Winner: Lehigh University  – Reduces the use of, and waste from, disposable clamshell take-out containers on campus through its ecocontainer effort.

Food Waste Reduction: Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis – Launches Riverwalk Composting Pilot Program, a student‐led initiative focused on empowering residents at Riverwalk Apartments to compost their food waste.

Education and Awareness:

• Dallas College– Promotes zero waste with an online Zero Waste Education Hub, and modeled Zero Waste Practices in Arts, Construction and Public Health.
• Towson University(receives an Honorable Mention) – Hosts social media education and awareness campaigns focused on waste reduction and avoidance best practices, with an emphasis on food waste and wasted food.

Summary of Waste Reduction Efforts: Kent State University at Kent (Ohio) – Focuses on food insecurity and food waste diversion, summarizing efforts since 2011.

Communication and Outreach Materials:

• CR2ZW 2021 National Press Release
• CR2ZW 2021 Press Release Template for Schools
• CR2ZW 2021 Impact Flier
• CR2ZW 2021 Campus Poster
• CR2ZW 2021 Final Results Blog
• CR2ZW 2021 Case Study Blog

Competition Final Results Reports:
Note: The GameDay Basketball category was not hosted in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Zero Waste 2021
• Diversion 2021
• Per Capita Classic 2021
• Food Organics 2021
• Electronics 2021
• Race to Zero Waste 2021

2018 Competition by the Numbers

Colleges & Universities: 300
Students: 3.6 million
Total Pounds of Recyclables & Food Organics Collected: 68.6 million
Greenhouse Gas Reductions: 94.152 (MTCO2E)

2018 RecycleMania Final Results Press Release

Official Competition Results - 8 Week Categories: Diversion and Per Capita
Benchmark Division Results - 8 Week Categories
Basketball GameDay Results
“E-cycleMania” - Electronics Results
Race to Zero™ Waste Results

National Winners

• Diversion (formerly Grand Champion): College of Staten Island (94.88% recycling rate)
• Per Capita Classic: Rhode Island School of Design (82.36 lbs per capita)
• Food Organics: Knox College (54 total points)

Special Categories

• E-CycleMania: University of San Diego (125,259 tons of e-waste)
• Race to Zero Waste™:
  • Lowest waste per 1,000 sq. ft: SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry 
  • Diversion: Arizona State University
• GameDay Basketball
  • Diversion: Ohio University (96.99% diversion rate)
  • Per Capita: Loyola Marymount University (.48 lbs. Per person)

Campus Engagement Case Study Competition

• Education and Awareness Campaign: University of Virginia
• Waste Minimization: Central New Mexico Community College
• Food Waste Reduction: University of Akron

2016 Competition by the Numbers

Colleges & Universities: 350
Students & Staff: 4.8 million
Total Pounds of Recyclables & Food Organics Collected: 79.3 million
Greenhouse Gas Reductions: 122,000 (MTCO2E)

2016 Program Report

Competition Division Results
Special Category Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: Richland College of Dallas, TX (81.77% recycling rate)
• Per Capita Classic: Loyola Marymount University (67.4 lbs per capita)
• Waste Minimization: North Lake College (4.1 lbs per capita)
• Gorilla Prize:Rutgers University (2,057,581 lbs)
• Bottles & Cans: Loyola Marymount University (12.3 lbs per capita)
• Cardboard: Loyola Marymount University (25.8 lbs per capita)
• Paper: Loyola Marymount University (29.3 lbs per capita)
• Food Service Organics: Union College (36.1 lbs per capita)

Special Categories

• Special Categories Electronics: University of San Diego (9.1 lbs per person)
• Film Plastic: University of Oregon (0.1 lbs per person)
• Game Day: Basketball
  • Diversion Rate: Loyola University Chicago (94%)
  • Per Capita Recycling: University of Virginia (0.75 lbs per capita)
  • Waste Generation: Cornell University (0.02 lbs per capita)
  • Food Organics: The Ohio State University (0.37 lbs per capita)

"Waste Less - Promote More" Case Study Competition

• SUNY Oswego
• North Lake College

2015 Competition by the Numbers

Colleges & Universities: 394
Students & Staff: 5.8 million
Total Recycling & Composting:80.1 million
Greenhouse Gas Reductions: 129, 411 (MTCO2E)

2015 Program Report

Competition Division Results
Benchmark Division Results
Special Category Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: Antioch University Seattle (96% diversion)
• Per Capita Classic: Loyola Marymount University (73.9 lbs per capita)
• Waste Minimization: North Lake College (3.3 lbs per capita)
• Gorilla Prize: Rutgers University (2, 229, 611 lbs)
• Bottles & Cans: Loyola Marymount University (13 lbs per capita)
• Cardboard: Loyola Marymount University (28 lbs per capita)
• Paper: Loyola Marymount University (32 lbs per capita)
• Food Service Organics: Colorado College (29 lbs per capita)

Special Categories

• Electronics: Southwestern College (16, 599 lbs)
• Film Plastic: Stanford University (2, 340 lbs)
• Game Day: Basketball
  • Diversion Rate: University of California, Berkeley (95%)
  • Per Capita Recycling: Catholic University of America (0.69 lbs per capita)
  • Waste Generation: Eastern Kentucky University (0.03 lbs per capita)
  • Food Organics: University of Nevada Las Vegas (0.26 lbs per capita)

“Waste Less - Promote More” Case Study Competition

• Raritan Valley Community College
• Central New Mexico Community College

2014 Competition by the Numbers

Colleges & Universities: 461
Students & Staff: 6.3 million
Total Recycling & Composting: 85.6 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reductions: 137, 452 (MTCO2E)

Competition Division Results
Benchmark Division Results
Special Category Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: Antioch University (93.13% diversion rate)
• Per Capita Classic: Kalamazoo College (48.62 lbs per capita)
• Waste Minimization: Valencia College (2.87 lbs per capita)
• Gorilla Prize: Rutgers University (1,353,940 lbs)
• Paper: Westfield State University (26.4 lbs per capita)
• Cardboard: United States Military Academy (28.59 lbs per capita)
• Bottles and Cans: Kalamazoo College (14.99 lbs per capita)
• Food Service Organics: Bard College (28.59 lbs per capita)

Special Categories

• Electronics: Agnes Scott College (1.18 lbs per capita)
• Film Plastic: Salt Lake Community College (8, 675 lbs)
• Game Day Basketball
  • Diversion Rate: University of California, Berkeley (93%)
  • Per Capita Recycling: Minnesota State University - Mankato (0.48 lbs per capita)
  • Waste Generation: Brigham Young University (0.08 lbs per capita)
  • Food Organics: Temple University (0.48 lbs per capita)

2013 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 523
Number of Students & Staff: 6.5 million
Total Recycling & Composting: 90.8 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reduction: 121, 436 (MTCO2E)

Competition Division Results
Benchmark Division Results
Special Category Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: University of Missouri Kansas City (86.02 percent) - Kansas City, MO
• Per Capita Classic: California State University San Marcos (53.11 lbs.) - San Marcos, CA
• Waste Minimization: Valencia College (3.20 lbs.) - Orlando, Fl.
• Gorilla Prize: Rutgers University (1, 519, 216 lbs.) – Piscataway, NJ
• Paper: California State University San Marcos (35.51 lbs.) - San Marcos, CA
• Cardboard: Franklin and Marshall College (25.99 lbs.) - Lancaster, PA
• Bottles and Cans: Baldwin Wallace College (18. 49 lbs.) – Berea, OH
• Food Service Organics: Johnson & Whales University - Denver (30.21 lbs.) – Denver, CO
• Electronics: University of San Diego (80, 421 lbs.) - San Diego, CA
• Film Plastics: Bowdoin College (1, 410 lbs.) - Brunswick, ME
• Game Day: Basketball
  • Per Capita: Harvard University (.41 lbs. per capita) - Cambridge, MA
  • Diversion Rate: University of California, Berkeley (96.85%) - Berkeley, CA
  • Waste Generation: Ferrum College (.015 lbs. per capita) - Ferrum, VA
  • Food Organics: University of Nevada - Las Vegas (.154 lbs. per capita) - Las Vegas, NV
  • GHG Reduction: Harvard University (2,664 MTC02E) - Cambridge, MA

2012 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 605
Number of Students & Staff: 6.2 million
Total Recycling & Composting: 94.4 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reduction: 148,897 (MTCO2E)

Competition Division Results
Benchmark Division Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: American University (85.16 percent) - Washington, D.C.
• Per Capita Classic: Union College (61.79 lbs.) - Schenectady, N.Y.
• Waste Minimization: Valencia College (2.79 lbs.) - Orlando, Fl.
• Gorilla Prize: Rutgers University (2,489,528 lbs.) – Piscataway, NJ
• Paper: Augustana College (31.84 lbs.) - Rock Island, IL
• Cardboard: Union College (29.42 lbs.) - Schenectady, N.Y.
• Bottles and Cans: Kalamazoo College (14.05lbs.) – Kalamazoo, MI
• Food Service Organics: Bard College (31.27 lbs.) – Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
• Electronics: Purdue University (69,965 lbs.) - West Lafayette, IN

2011 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 630
Number of Students & Staff: 7.5 million
Total Recycling & Composting: 91 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reductions: 127,553(MTCO2E)

Competition Division Results
Benchmark Division Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: California State University-San Marcos (79.69 %) – San Marcos, CA
• Per Capita Classic: Union College (55.69lbs.) – Schenectady, NY
• Waste Minimization: North Lake College (3.07 lbs.) – Irving, TX
• Gorilla Prize: Rutgers University (3,057,867 lbs.) – Piscataway, NJ
• Paper: Stetson University (25.03 lbs.) – DeLand, FL
• Cardboard: Union College (25.07 lbs.) – Schenectady, NY
• Bottles and Cans: Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (13.14 lbs.) – Needham, MA
• Food Service Organics: Brandeis University (39.01 lbs.) – Waltham, MA

2010 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 607
Number of Students & Staff: 7.5 million
Total Recycling & Composting: 84.5 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reductions: 137,500 (MTCO2E)

Full Competition Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: California State University-San Marcos (71.82 %) – San Marcos, CA
• Per Capita Classic: United States Coast Guard Academy (81.75 lbs.) – New London, CT
• Waste Minimization: North Lake College (6.17 lbs.) – Irving, TX
• Gorilla Prize: Rutgers University (2,541,093 lbs.) – Piscataway, NJ
• Paper: Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (30.71 lbs.) – Needham, MA
• Cardboard: Kalamazoo College (25.23 lbs.) – Kalamazoo, MI
• Bottles and Cans: Ursinus College (19.44 lbs.) – Collegeville, PA
• Food Service Organics: Johnson & Wales University-Denver (41.79 lbs.) – Denver, CO

2009 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 510
Number of Students & Staff: 5.8 million
Total Recycling & Composting: 69.4 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reductions: 88,739 (MTCO2E)

Full Competition Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: California State University-San Marcos (78.09 percent) - San Marcos, CA
• Per Capita Classic: McNeese State University (76.19 lbs.) - Lake Charles, LA
• Waste Minimization: North Lake College (8.7 lbs.) - Irving, TX
• Gorilla Prize: Rutgers University (2,131,378 lbs.) – Piscataway, NJ
• Paper: Stephens College (40.87 lbs.) - Columbia, MO
• Cardboard: McNeese State University (41.87 lbs.) - Lake Charles, LA
• Bottles and Cans: Kalamazoo College (19.03 lbs.) – Kalamazoo, MI
• Food Service Organics: Bard College (26.64 lbs.) – Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

2008 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 400
Number of Students & Staff: 5.1 million
Total Recycling & Composting: 58.6 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reduction: 76,180 (MTC2E)

Whole Campus Results
Partial Campus Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: Kalamazoo College (58.93 percent) - Kalamazoo, MI
• Per Capita Classic: Kalamazoo College (75.22 lbs.) - Kalamazoo, MI
• Waste Minimization: North Lake College (12.53 lbs.) - Irving, TX
• Gorilla Prize: Stanford University (1,231,012 lbs.) – Stanford, CA
• Paper: Stephens College (31.82 lbs.) - Columbia, MO
• Cardboard: United States Coast Guard Academy (35.46 lbs.) - New London, CT
• Bottles and Cans: Rhode Island School of Design (22.28 lbs.) – Providence, RI
• Food Service Organics: Mills College (34.15 lbs.) – Oakland, CA

2007 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 201
Total Recycling & Composting: 41.4 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reduction: 15,583 (MTC2E)

Full Competition Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: California State University, San Marcos (59.94 percent) - San Marcos, CA
• Per Capita Classic: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (101.12 lbs.) - Palisades, NY
• Waste Minimization: University of Texas at Austin (31.97 lbs.) - Austin, TX
• Gorilla Prize: Rutgers University – New Brunswick, NJ
• Paper: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (89.96 lbs.) - Palisades, NY
• Cardboard: West Los Angeles Community College (35.46 lbs.) - New London, CT
• Bottles and Cans: Kalamazoo College (24.64 lbs.) – Kalamazoo, MI
• Food Service Organics: Rutgers University (71.2 lbs.) – New Brunswick, NJ

2006 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 93
Number of Students & Staff: 1.2 Million
Total Recycling & Composting: 18 million pounds
Greenhouse Gas Reduction: 8,000 (MTC2E)

Full Competition Results

National Winners

• Grand Champion: California State University, San Marcos - San Marcos, CA
• Per Capita Classic: Oregon State University – Corvallis, OR
• Waste Minimization: Point Loma Nazarene University - San Diego, CA
• Paper: Harvard University - Cambridge, MA
• Cardboard: California State University, San Marcos - San Marcos, CA
• Bottles and Cans: Rhode Island School of Design– Providence, RI
• Food Service Organics: Middlebury College – Middlebury, VT

2005 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 46
Number of Students: 198,000
Total Recycling & Composting: 10.4 million pounds

Full Competition Results

National Winners

• Recycling Rate: California State University, San Marcos - San Marcos, CA
• Per Capita Classic: Miami University – Oxford, OH

2004 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 17
Number of Students: 83,536
Total Recycling: 2.4 million pounds

Rank - School - (lbs./Person)

1. Miami University (58.282)
2. Dartmouth College 56.223)
3. Ohio University (44.024)
4. Villanova University (41.745)
5. Five Colleges Recycling (38.366)
6. Carnegie-Mellon University (33.547)
7. Harvard University (33.188)
8. University of Vermont (29.619)
9. Brown University (27.8910)
10. Yale University (27.3211)
11. Southwest Missouri State University (25.0512)
12. Western Michigan University (23.5113)
13. Ohio State University (17.0714)
14. Arizona State University (16.8215)
15. Brigham Young University (7.0816)
16. University of Arizona (5.7717)
17. Washington University (3.87)

2003 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 8
Number of Students: 45,770
Total Recycling: 1.7 million pounds

Rank - School - (lbs./ Person)

1. Bowling Green State University (52.5)
2. University of Oregon (51.5)
3. Miami University (48.9)
4. Harvard University (48.1)
5. Ohio University (29.4)
6. Western Michigan University (22.4)
7. Ohio State University (11.4)
8. Washington University (4.6)

2002 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 4

Rank - School - (lbs. / Person)

1. Bowling Green State University (482)
2. Ohio University (46.63)
3. Miami University (45.74)
4. Harvard University (38.9)

2001 Competition by the Numbers

Number of Colleges: 2

Rank - School - (lbs. / Person)

1. Miami University (66.19)
2. Ohio University (50.8)