What is Campus Race to Zero Waste?
UMass Amherst is competing against hundreds of other universities and colleges in Campus Race to Zero Waste 2023. A national competition that helps colleges and universities advance campus recycling, food waste diversion, and waste reduction efforts.
How do I participate?
Get it to the bin. Recycle your bottles, cans, and paper (empty dining to-go containers are recyclable too!) and empty your food scraps into the food waste bin. Make sure that you review the signs that indicate what items are accepted. Remember, no containers or packaging of any kind can go in the food waste bin. Check out the campus recycling guidelines!
Get in the game: Reduce your waste! Reuse items when possible! Recycle properly, rinse it and use the right bin (Recycle / Food Waste/ Landfill)!
Use Hydration Stations to refill your reusable water bottle and reduce single-use plastic waste. There are over 256 hydration stations on our campus and counting. Check out our plastics reduction initiatives and sign here to tell UMass Amherst to pledge to reduce its reliance on plastics.
Leadership opportunity!
Want to help out with Campus Race to Zero Waste? Become a CRZW Eco Leader!
To earn the badge, students complete the following steps:
1. Learn about the competition
2.Take one or more actions to support the competition
3.Communicate about the competition to their peers and others on campus
4.Take one or more actions to help sustain the competition on campus
Learn more about the CR2ZW EcoLeader Student Leaderhip Badge. Once you have registered, email lsimmons@acad.umass.edu to be added to the UMass CRZW EcoLeader group!
How long does Campus Race to Zero Waste last?
Campus Race to Zero Waste is an 8-week competition that begins January 29th and ends on March 25th.
When are results announced?
Weekly. Track current rankings for the national competition on the leader board at www.campusracetozerowaste.org.
Past Results
2022 (167 colleges)
- Diversion: #14 overall, #2 among peer institutions (55.6% diversion rate)
- Per capita classic: #73 overall, #27 among peers (4.8 lbs. recycled per person)
- Food organics: #65 overall, #29 among peers (40 points)
2021 (167 colleges)
- Diversion: #30; 42.39% recycling rate
- Per capita classic: #15; 25.99/lbs person recycled
2019 -2020: did not participate
2018 (300 colleges)
- Diversion: Rank #32; 50.59% recycling rate
- Per capita classic: #101; 11.04lbs/person recycled
2017 (320 colleges)
- Diversion: Rank #42; 51.54% recycling rate
- Per capita Classic: #81; 13.91 lbs/person recycled
- Total Recycling: #9; 1,040,780
- Waste Minimization: #103; 60.35 lbs./person total waste
- Targeted Materials:
- Food Organics: #11; 17.91lbs/person
2016 (350 colleges)
- Grand champion competition: Rank #26; 54.88% recycling rate
- Per capita Classic: Rank #83; 14.36lbs/person recycled
- Waste Minimization: Rank #89; 68.94lbs/person total waste
- Gorilla (total lbs recycled): Rank #7; 1,253,186 total lbs. recycled
- Targeted materials
- Food organics: Rank #3; 23.47lbs./person
2009-2015: did not participate
2008 results (400 colleges participating)
- Grand Champion competition: Rank #36 – 26.81% recycling rate
- Per capita Classic: #63 17.28lbs/person recycled
- Waste Minimization: #43 64.45lbs waste/person
- Gorilla Prize (total lbs recyclables for entire competition): #24 474,810lbs recycled
- Targeted Materials
- Paper: #63; 7.31lbs/person
- Cardboard: #52; 6.85lbs/person
- Bottles & Cans: #47; 2.91lbs/person
- Food Service Organics: #11; 11.8lbs/person
2007 results (201 colleges participating)
- Participant (results not available)
2006 results (93 colleges participating)
- Participant in Per Capita Classic, Waste Minimization, Grand Champion, Targeted Materials (paper, corrugated cardboard, bottles & cans, food service organics) competitions
- Ranked #5 in Food Service Organics2021 (167 colleges)
2005 results (46 colleges participating)
- Per capita classic: Rank 25th – 26.26lbs/person recycled
- Recycling Rate 24.7%
