The Ohio State University Columbus campus joined 2.7 million students, faculty and staff across the country in the 2024 Campus Race to Zero Waste competition. Over 30.7 million pounds of waste in total was donated, composed and recycled while 105 million single-use plastics were kept out of the landfill. That’s enough to prevent the release of 23,174 metric tons of carbon dioxide, equal to avoiding the annual emissions from 5,515 cars!
“We love to see the campus community come together to achieve remarkable results every year, showcasing our collective commitment to sustainability,” said Molly Kathleen, Zero Waste Consultant for Facilities Operations and Development. “Minimizing our environmental impact is not just a campus priority, but a global imperative that we’re proud to champion for future generations.”
Ohio State’s Columbus campus competition highlights include:
- First place winner among Ohio colleges and universities in the Diversion category, diverting 34%.
- First place among Big 10 schools in the Per Capita Classic competition, diverting 17.23 pounds per person.
- First place winner among large universities (30,000+ students) in the Per Capita Classic competition, diverting 17.23 pounds per person.
- Second place among all schools in the GameDay Basketball Diversion category, achieving an incredible 96.7% diversion rate in the game against Nebraska on Feb. 14, 2024.
“These schools run the gamut – urban and rural, public and private, large and small,” said Stacey Wheeler, co-founder and president of the Campus Race to Zero Waste. “Their success shows that waste reduction in any type of community is possible, and is a testament to every student, faculty and staff member who made these accomplishments happen.”
Learn more about Ohio State University’s zero waste goal. If you have questions about recycling or composting on campus, contact recycle@osu.edu.