Northwest participates in the annual Campus Race to Zero Waste, a competition that encourages colleges and universities to advance campus recycling and waste reduction efforts. During the eight-week challenge, campuses report data on recycling, food waste diverted from the landfill, and trash hauled to the landfill.
Northwest vies for top honors against colleges and universities around the United States and Canada. Students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors can help Northwest climb in the competition’s national rankings by placing every recyclable item in the correct recycling bin and striving to reduce waste. Items that cannot be recycled (waste) should be placed in trash receptacles to avoid contaminating an entire batch of recyclables.
2025 Competition Dates: February 2 - March 29
In 2024 Northwest ranked #1 nationally in the Electronics Recycling Per Capita category, with the equivalent of 3.98 pounds recycled per person.
Help Northwest excel in the national competition. Always recycle these materials in the correct bin:
Race to Zero Totals: 3.9 million pounds
| Category | During Competition | National Rank | Campus Totals for FY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diversion Rate | 28.50% | 58 | 57.93% |
| Per Capita Division | 1.065 lbs | 113 | - |
| Food Organics Diverted Score | 55.00 | 47 | - |
| Food Organics Diverted Pounds | 26,760 | - | 189,500 lbs |
All Participants/Total Diversion Pounds: 28,914,583 pounds
| Category | During Competition | National Rank | Campus Totals for FY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diversion Rate | 33.71% | 49 | 71.09% |
| Per Capita Division | 3.766 lbs | 86 | -- |
| Food Organics Diverted Pounds | 43,740 lbs | -- | 178,000 lbs |
RecycleMania 2020 Competition Impact:
The abbreviated contest still had a big impact Thank you for your participation!
| FY Totals | Bottles & Cans | Cardboard & paper | Food service organics | (5wk.) Competition Diversion | (2wk.) Pre-Season Diversion | Total Diversion | Total Diversion % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,180 lbs. | 8,040 lbs. | 16,950 lbs. | 29,170 lbs. | 14,048 lbs. | 43,218 lbs. | 43.2% |
| Dates | Bottles & Cans Lbs. | Cardboard Lbs. | Paper Lbs. | Trash Lbs. | Compost Lbs. | Diversion Lbs. | Total Diversion % | Total Waste Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/20/2019 - 01/26/2019 | 340 | 1,200 | 1,600 | 8,810 | 3,820 | 3,140 | - | - |
| 01/27/2019 - 02/02/2019 | 600 | 2,100 | 3,100 | 6,675 | 3,500 | 5,800 | - | - |
| 02/03/2019 - 02/09/2019 | 3,340 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 12,920 | 780 | 8,540 | - | - |
| 02/10/2019 - 02/16/2019 | 720 | 4,425 | 4,425 | 16,380 | 4,810 | 9,570 | - | - |
| 02/17/2019 - 02/23/2019 | 540 | 2,900 | 2,900 | 12,470 | 3,240 | 6,340 | - | - |
| 02/24/2019 - 03/02/2019 | 1,920 | 1,825 | 1,825 | 17,080 | 6,100 | 5,570 | - | - |
| 03/03/2019 - 03/09/2019 | 850 | 1,450 | 1,450 | 17,790 | 5,500 | 3,750 | - | - |
| 03/10/2019 - 03/16/2019 | 1,130 | 1,875 | 1,875 | 13,150 | 4,430 | 4,880 | - | - |
| 03/17/2019 - 03/23/2019 | 1,410 | 1,740 | 1,740 | 22,360 | 5,390 | 4,890 | - | - |
| 03/24/2019 - 03/30/2019 | 2,220 | 3,275 | 3,275 | 12,620 | 2,160 | 8,770 | - | - |
| Totals: | 13,070 | 23,390 | 24,790 | 140,255 | 39,730 | 61,250 | 30.40% | 201,505 |
Landfill Savings: $1,470.00
| Dates | Bottles & Cans Lbs. | Cardboard Lbs. | Paper Lbs. | Trash Lbs. | Compost Lbs. | Diversion Lbs. | Total Diversion % | Total Waste Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/20/2018 - 01/26/2018 | 600 | 6,835 | 6,835 | 31,450 | 13,130 | 14,270 | - | - |
| 01/27/2018 - 02/02/2018 | 460 | 2,800 | 2,260 | 8,700 | 2,320 | 5,520 | - | - |
| 02/03/2018 - 02/09/2018 | 1,450 | 2,650 | 2,490 | 17,070 | 6,160 | 6,590 | - | - |
| 02/10/2018 - 02/16/2018 | 2,010 | 3,100 | 3,270 | 19,170 | 7,160 | 8,380 | - | - |
| 02/17/2018 - 02/23/2018 | 720 | 1,475 | 1,475 | 20,270 | 7,640 | 3,670 | - | - |
| 02/24/2018 - 03/02/2018 | 730 | 4,285 | 4,200 | 21,370 | 4,880 | 9,215 | - | - |
| 03/03/2018 - 03/09/2018 | 3,950 | 2,800 | 2,800 | 11,890 | 8,650 | 9,550 | - | - |
| 03/10/2018 - 03/16/2018 | 670 | 3,440 | 2,290 | 21,200 | 7,500 | 6,400 | - | - |
| 03/17/2018 - 03/23/2018 | 1,720 | 3,250 | 3,250 | 16,500 | 1,690 | 8,220 | - | - |
| 03/24/2018 - 03/30/2018 | 810 | 2,400 | 2,400 | 23,450 | 5,600 | 5,610 | - | - |
| Totals: | 13,120 | 33,035 | 31,270 | 191,070 | 64,730 | 77,425 | 29.30% | 268,495 |
Landfill Savings: $1,858.20
| Dates | Bottles & Cans Lbs. | Cardboard Lbs. | Paper Lbs. | Trash Lbs. | Compost Lbs. | Diversion Lbs. | Total Diversion % | Total Waste Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/20/2017 - 01/26/2017 | 1,260 | 2,825 | 2,825 | 21,030 | 6,650 | 6,910 | - | - |
| 01/27/2017 - 02/02/2017 | - | 1,400 | 1,400 | 26,556 | 9,600 | 2,800 | - | - |
| 02/03/2017 - 02/09/2017 | 1,880 | 2,720 | 2,720 | 21,270 | 10,020 | 7,320 | - | - |
| 02/10/2017 - 02/16/2017 | 500 | 2,620 | 2,460 | 14,440 | 6,870 | 5,580 | - | - |
| 02/17/2017 - 02/23/2017 | 2,140 | 3,950 | 3,950 | 28,420 | 13,510 | 10,040 | - | - |
| 02/24/2017 - 03/02/2017 | 280 | 1,750 | 1,750 | 13,110 | 9,810 | 3,780 | - | - |
| 03/03/2017 - 03/09/2017 | 220 | 3,295 | 3,295 | 20,000 | 10,890 | 6,810 | - | - |
| 03/10/2017 - 03/16/2017 | 460 | 2,955 | 2,955 | 21,720 | 11,380 | 6,370 | - | - |
| 03/17/2017 - 03/23/2017 | 460 | 3,440 | 3,440 | 17,820 | 8,540 | 7,340 | - | - |
| 03/24/2017 - 03/30/2017 | 1,240 | 1,325 | 1,325 | 5,450 | 4,670 | 3,890 | - | - |
| Totals: | 8,440 | 26,280 | 26,120 | 189,816 | 91,940 | 60,840 | 24.30% | 250,656 |
Landfill Savings: $1,460.16
| Dates | Bottles & Cans Lbs. | Cardboard Lbs. | Paper Lbs. | Trash Lbs. | Compost Lbs. | Diversion Lbs. | Total Diversion % | Total Waste Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/20/2016 - 01/26/2016 | 1,140 | 2,950 | 2,950 | 19,180 | 8,950 | 7,040 | - | - |
| 01/27/2016 - 02/02/2016 | 620 | 2,820 | 2,820 | 21,310 | 6,660 | 6,260 | - | - |
| 02/03/2016 - 02/09/2016 | 600 | 4,050 | 4,050 | 20,500 | 9,750 | 8,700 | - | - |
| 02/10/2016 - 02/16/2016 | 1,780 | 2,305 | 2,305 | 22,580 | 9,210 | 6,390 | - | - |
| 02/17/2016 - 02/23/2016 | 1,870 | 1,440 | 1,440 | 28,000 | 11,550 | 4,750 | - | - |
| 02/24/2016 - 03/02/2016 | 1,870 | 2,530 | 2,030 | 20,280 | 8,560 | 6,430 | - | - |
| 03/03/2016 - 03/09/2016 | 460 | 980 | 980 | 19,960 | 4,340 | 2,420 | - | - |
| 03/10/2016 - 03/16/2016 | 500 | 1,760 | 1,000 | 22,330 | 7,710 | 3,260 | - | - |
| 03/17/2016 - 03/23/2016 | - | 1,350 | 1,350 | 8,000 | 450 | 2,700 | - | - |
| 03/24/2016 - 03/30/2016 | 1,490 | 3,650 | 3,930 | 12,270 | 11,080 | 9,070 | - | - |
| Totals: | 10,330 | 23,835 | 22,855 | 194,410 | 78,260 | 57,020 | 22.70% | 251,430 |
Landfill Savings: $1,368.48
In 2015 Northwest, for thefourth year, entered the Recyclemania Competition Divisionin Food Service Organics (46th overall) and Cans & Bottles (44th overall). During the eight week competition, not only did Northwest divert44,680 lbs. of food waste from the landfill, it also diverted 8,148 lbs. of cans and bottles.During the competition period, Northwest also diverted 55,910 lbs. mixed paper for use by the alternative fuel pelletizing operation (Waste to Energy is not included by official RecycleMania guidelines).
At the completion of the 8 week competition period, the 108,738 lbs. of Food, Paper, and Recyclables collected brought Northwest Missouri State's total waste diversion rate to 43.7%.
While again there were no first place grand prize trophies for our 2015 efforts, it should be noted that of the Missouri universities competing in the Food Service Organics category, Northwest was #1.
| University | Rank |
|---|---|
| Northwest Missouri State University | 46 |
| Washington University | 78 |
| Missouri State University | 97 |
| Maryville University of St. Louis | 102 |
| UMKC | 117 |
| MU Columbia | 123 |
CONGRATULATIONS!
The 7 Missouri universities competing in 2015 diverted1,568,698 lbs. or 1785.35 tons of waste from the landfill in just 8 weeks!
| Dates | Bottles & Cans Lbs. | Cardboard Lbs. | Paper Lbs. | Trash Lbs. | Compost Lbs. | Diversion Lbs. | Total Diversion % | Total Waste Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/20/2015 - 01/26/2015 | 500 | 1,740 | 4,060 | 20,870 | 5,510 | 6,300 | - | - |
| 01/27/2015 - 02/02/2015 | 1,720 | 2,090 | 4,870 | 21,250 | 7,460 | 8,680 | - | - |
| 02/03/2015 - 02/09/2015 | 650 | 2,100 | 5,560 | 24,770 | 5,840 | 8,310 | - | - |
| 02/10/2015 - 02/16/2015 | 1,240 | 1,710 | 3,990 | 17,680 | 8,050 | 6,940 | - | - |
| 02/17/2015 - 02/23/2015 | 990 | 1,790 | 4,170 | 15,680 | 4,260 | 6,950 | - | - |
| 02/24/2015 - 03/02/2015 | 1,050 | 3,330 | 6,610 | 13,790 | 4,710 | 10,990 | - | - |
| 03/03/2015 - 03/09/2015 | 1,175 | 2,640 | 6,160 | 23,420 | 8,760 | 9,975 | - | - |
| 03/10/2015 - 03/16/2015 | 740 | 1,690 | 3,940 | 13,630 | 5,940 | 6,370 | - | - |
| 03/17/2015 - 03/23/2015 | 1,010 | 2,380 | 5,540 | 14,430 | 6,010 | 8,930 | - | - |
| 03/24/2015 - 03/30/2015 | 1,370 | 1,290 | 3,010 | 7,530 | 1,520 | 5,670 | - | - |
| Totals: | 10,445 | 20,760 | 47,910 | 173,050 | 58,060 | 79,115 | 31.40% | 252,165 |
Landfill Savings: $1,898.76
| Dates | Bottles & Cans Lbs. | Cardboard Lbs. | Paper Lbs. | Trash Lbs. | Compost Lbs. | Diversion Lbs. | Total Diversion % | Total Waste Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/20/2014 - 01/26/2014 | 860 | 3,350 | 3,350 | 21,890 | 6,680 | 7,560 | - | - |
| 01/27/2014 - 02/02/2014 | 350 | 3,510 | 3,510 | 13,670 | 9,350 | 7,370 | - | - |
| 02/03/2014 - 02/09/2014 | - | 1,725 | 1,725 | 13,390 | 4,710 | 3,450 | - | - |
| 02/10/2014 - 02/16/2014 | 940 | 3,185 | 3,185 | 8,710 | 8,960 | 7,310 | - | - |
| 02/17/2014 - 02/23/2014 | 310 | 4,400 | 4,400 | 7,690 | 6,340 | 9,110 | - | - |
| 02/24/2014 - 03/02/2014 | 1,950 | 2,090 | 2,090 | 22,080 | 3,350 | 6,130 | - | - |
| 03/03/2014 - 03/09/2014 | - | 2,000 | 2,000 | 21,560 | 6,710 | 4,000 | - | - |
| 03/10/2014 - 03/16/2014 | 210 | 4,290 | 4,290 | 16,700 | 9,530 | 8,790 | - | - |
| 03/17/2014 - 03/23/2014 | - | 3,860 | 3,860 | 19,540 | 7,350 | 7,720 | - | - |
| 03/24/2014 - 03/30/2014 | 1,060 | 3,175 | 3,175 | 16,000 | - | 7,410 | - | - |
| Totals: | 5,680 | 31,585 | 31,585 | 161,230 | 62,980 | 68,850 | 29.90% | 230,080 |
Landfill Savings: $1,652.40
