Aramark and 77 of its higher education partners recycled more than 16.6 million pounds of waste in the 2015 RecycleMania competition, an annual competition for college and university recycling programs aimed at promoting waste reduction on campuses.
Aramark, (NYSE: ARMK), the $15 billion global provider of award-winning services in food, facilities management and uniforms, collaborates with its higher education clients each year as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, with waste minimisation efforts being a major focus. RecycleMania provides an opportunity for Aramark and its partners to celebrate their progress in minimising waste, and recognise the accomplishments of the colleges and universities that participate.
"RecycleMania is just one example of our environmental sustainability commitment, and our approach to providing clients with solutions that enrich and support the natural environment," said Rita Alison, who leads environmental sustainability for Aramark's Higher Education business. "We are proud to partner with our clients on our shared commitment to reduce waste and minimise our environmental impact."
In 2015, nearly 400 higher education institutions in the U.S. and Canada participated in RecycleMania, now in its 15th year. Over an eight-week period, the colleges and universities report the amount of recycling and trash collected each week, and are in turn ranked on various categories. With each week's ranking, participating schools use the results to rally students and other on campus to reduce their waste and recycle more.
Recycling not only preserves natural resources but also uses less energy than creating new products from raw materials, Alison noted. According to the RecycleMania 2015 results, the 16.6 million pounds of waste recycled by Aramark campus partners has an impact comparable to taking 4,672 cars off the road.
Aramark dining and facilities management teams support their higher education clients throughout the competition, engaging students and others on campus with tools and programs that helps to increase recycling rates during RecycleMania and beyond.
Each year, Aramark partners with more than 600 North American schools to develop innovative environmental sustainability programs that address environmental issues that are most material to our business, including responsible purchasing practices, energy and water conservation waste minimisation and transportation management as part of its commitment to continuously improve environmental practices for Aramark and its clients.
To learn more about Aramark's environmental sustainability efforts on college campuses and its commitment to enriching and supporting the environment please visit www.aramark.com.