University of Maryland, College Park
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Campus Race to Zero Waste: An annual 8-week competition that challenges colleges across the United States and Canada to collect the most recyclable materials. Materials that are accepted include all paper products (including cardboard, books, mail, magazines, newspapers), bottles, cans, and all items that would go into the single-stream recycling bins. For the past two years, the University also competed in two additional categories: food service organics (which includes pre-and post-consumer food waste such as compostable dinnerware and napkins) and electronics. Weekly weigh-ins are used to monitor the amounts that each competing school reports, and to determine which has the best recycling rate as a percentage of total waste and which produces the lowest volume of trash and recycling.

The competition aims to generate momentum for recycling efforts throughout campus as both students and staff can help achieve the University's goals of (1)maintaining a 75% institutional waste diversion rate, and (2) increasing the individual recycling rate. The "Recycle This!" video competition was launched in 2014 to encourage students to make and submit videos that promote recycling on campus. Each entry consists of a 30-second HD video about recycling, composting, or waste reduction. The creator of the winning video receives a grand prize of $500 in Terrapin Express points (for dining options on campus) and the honor of having their video shown at a men's basketball home game.

Highlights from the 2020 competition include:
-- Diverted 52.81% of waste away from the landfill (into recycling or compost) - an improvement from 49% in 2018
-- Ranked of #1 in Maryland
-- Ranked #1 in the Big 10 Conference
-- Ranked #25 Nationally

The Green Terp and Green Chapter programs are focused on engaging students in sustainability. A team of student interns, ambassadors, and volunteers hosted events to encourage sustainable choices. After pledging, students receive a checklist of 28 ways to take action and select at least 10 actions from 7 categories (including food, water, waste, energy, transportation) and receive a resource kit and monthly newsletter featuring how and why to implement each action. Once students take action, they can certify for a reusable gift set (either reusable straw or utensil sets). While pledging and after certifying, students are asked about their level of commitment to sustainable choices to evaluate the impact of the program. Learn more at: https://greenterp.umd.edu and https://greenchapter.umd.edu.

For metrics on measured positive impacts of the Green Terp and Green Chapter programs, please review the SustainableUMD Progress Hub at: https://sustainingprogress.umd.edu/measuring-progress/education-sustainability

Historically, the University of Maryland offered the Small Footprint Pledge, but discontinued the program in 2021. The Small Footprint Pledge Program provided an easy and accessible environmental action that anyone can take. By encouraging students, staff, and faculty to pledge to small, easy actions and behavior changes, the program presented sustainability as an achievable goal – a series of daily habits and choices rather than overwhelmingly large changes. Pledge-takers were ideally empowered by their initial action and feel comfortable taking more or bigger steps toward sustainability, whether those additional steps are further pledge actions or not. The pledge also aimed to demonstrate the cumulative impact of everyone who takes the pledge. The Small Footprint Pledge consisted of 12 measurable actions. Pledge-takers had the option of committing to one action for their chosen length of time (week, month, or year).

This pledge has transitioned to the Green Terp, Green Chapter, and Green Office programs.

Other significant outreach campaigns that focus on sustainable topics include the Ocean Friendly Campus initiative, the Green Office program, and others.