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As part of the Zero Waste Western initiative, Western Washington University is participating in , a national competition and campaign aimed at reducing waste while educating the campus community about composting and recycling programs.

Western in a collective effort to increase composting and recycling in residential and retail dining operations, residence halls and academic and office buildings.

Over an eight-week period each spring, colleges across the United States and Canada report the amount of recyclables, compostables and landfill waste collected each week. The universities are then ranked in various categories based on who recycles the most on a per capita basis. Schools also are ranked on recycling rates as a percentage of total waste and generation of combined trash and recycling.

Throughout the competition, Western will track its progress and compare those results to other competing schools. Numbers will be posted on the weekly.

Schools will be assessed in the following categories:

• amount of recyclables per capita
• amount of total recyclables
• amount of trash per capita
• recycling rate