Majoring in Recycling

Universities and waste and recycling organizations have teamed up on several fronts.

Casella Waste Systems Inc. is partnering with Green Mountain College on a closed-loop recycling program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Georgian Court University formed an agreement for improved environmental practices at the school, including recycling and reuse goals.

And finally, three organizations partnered to provide 20,000 recycling bins to colleges and universities during the RecycleMania academic competition.

Green Mountain College, in Poultney, Vt., agreed to participate in Casella’s Power of Three initiative, according to a news release. Under the Power of Three program, the Rutland, Vt.-based Casella picks up a customer’s recycling, processes it into new products and returns those products – new hand towels, tissue paper and toiletry items – to the customer.

The Green Mountain partnership also includes SCA Paper, Foley Distributing and UGL Services.

The Lakewood, N.J.-based Georgian Court University will participate in EPA environmental stewardship programs and get technical assistance from the agency, according to an EPA news release.

The university agreed to at least double its recycling rate; promote reusable water bottle use; implement a composting program ; and other initiatives.

On the annual RecycleMania college competition, Stamford, Conn.-based Keep America Beautiful, the Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Foundation and the College & University Recycling Coalition in Washington awarded 33 grants to U.S. schools. Those academic institutions can use the recycling bins in a variety of on-campus locations, the partners said in a news release.