Press Releases

Recyclemania, a Nation-Wide Sustainability Contest,
Recognizes Naropa University as Green Leader                                                                                                                    

BOULDER, Colo. (April 16, 2008)— Naropa University ranked second in a field of 22 colleges and universities competing in the "Grand Champion" category of this year's Recyclemania competition--edging out Rutger's University and finishing .17 of a percentage point behind CSU-San Marcos. By recycling approximately three times as much material as it sends to the landfill, Naropa posted an elite ratio.

"This semester," says Student Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Bohn, "we changed all of our public bathroom bins to compostable paper-towels, which took a lot of bulk out of what normally would go to the landfill. And The Naropa Café has completely converted from throw away service products to reusable and compostable plates, cups, and utensils. They are now composting 90 percent of their food waste. All of this has made a huge impact on our landfill diversion rate."

Over the past year, Naropa’s recycling program diverted 21,490 pounds of mixed paper and cardboard, 9,860 pounds of commingled containers and 15,990 pounds of compostables from landfills.

Founded by Ed Newman and Stacy Wheeler in 2001, Recyclemania evaluates the sustainability efforts of participating schools for a 10-week period each year. Originally a modest event, the competition has grown to include 400 institutions from 46 states participating in numerous categories. Schools have the option of participating in full or partial-campus divisions.

In addition to leading the Grand Champion category for eight weeks, Naropa consistently ranked in the top five for Food Service Organics (composting) and Waste Minimization. Led by the student-run recycling department--which maintains numerous receptacles on campus, distributes informational flyers and provides zero waste training to academic departments--Naropa continues to improve its green efforts.

Dedication to environmental standards at the highest level was made explicit when, in 2007, Naropa President Thomas B. Coburn signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. As a result, the university will conduct a comprehensive inventory of all its greenhouse gas emissions and develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral.

To learn more about Recyclemania, please visit www.recyclemania.org.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education.  This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.