Jul 07, 2025

NWMSU ranks at the top reducing waste on campus

Posted Jul 07, 2025 6:35 PM

By MATT PIKE

For a second consecutive year, Northwest Missouri State University is at the top of other colleges and universities across the nation at recycling electronic items.

The final results of the 2025 Campus Race to Zero Waste competition showed Northwest placed first in the category of Electronics Recycling Per Capita by recycling 2.3 pounds per capita and submitting nearly 15,500 pounds, which amounts to nearly 8 tons. The items included batteries, lamps, televisions, monitors, laptops and other computer equipment.

Additionally, Northwest offices worked with the Office of Sustainability to reuse or recycle as many discarded electronics, including desk phones discarded during the University’s installation of a new phone system this year, fluorescent and incandescent bulbs replaced with LEDs, computers, and televisions, printers and computer peripherals that were not in working condition.

“Each year, we hope the Campus Race to Zero Waste reminds everyone on campus to reduce waste and recycle whenever possible,” Northwest's environmental sustainability coordinatorTim Hill said in a news release from the University. “Winning the Electronics Recycling Per Capita category is a testament to Northwest’s longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship.”

In other categories, Northwest ranked No. 22 in minimizing food waste, No. 48 in waste diversion and No. 68 in per capita recycling.

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