By Andjelka Zoranovic

This Saturday, Wartburg College will take on the University of Dubuque in football and much of the nation in recycling.

Everyone attending Wartburg’s Homecoming football game can be part of the nationwide Game Day Challenge, a friendly competition for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction at football games.

The event is similar to RecycleMania, held earlier this year, but it lasts for just one day. As part of their Res Life service project, Hailee Reist ’15 and Kaitlyn Proper ’15 decided to lead the competition against some of the nation’s major schools.

“This is very demanding project, and we are aiming for the top in this contest,” Reist said. “Schools such as Harvard, (University of California) Berkeley and University of Iowa are involved, and we need to show our best.”

She emphasized that the main goal is to reduce waste, while demonstrating that recycling can be simple, positive and fun.

Wartburg will compete in two categories: waste minimization and diversion rate.

“Everyone can get involved. The least that people can do is to put trash in an appropriate recycling bin,” Proper said.

The two students are working with the maintenance staff to secure recycling containers and place . They are recruiting volunteers to help and inform people about theGame Day Challenge.

“The most important part of this activity is to not let anyone leave the stadium without knowing about the Game Day Challenge,” Reist added. 

Game Day Challenge 2011 had positive results nationwide, according to gamedaychallenge.org: “From September through November, 75 participating colleges and universities and 2.7 million fans diverted nearly 500,000 pounds of waste from football games. … The greenhouse gas emissions avoided were equal to removing 159 passenger vehicles from the road for one year.”

“This is a great way for people to enjoy Homecoming and recycle at the same time,” Reist said. “Everyone can do it and make a huge impact by just carrying their trash to the bin. It’s simple as that.”