The University of Florida (UF) was selected by the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) as its inaugural Outstanding Higher Education Program award recipient. UF received the award at the Resource Recycling Conference in Minneapolis, MN on Monday night.  This new award was created by the NRC to recognize colleges and universities with exceptional programs in recycling or in connecting higher education and the recycling industry in the areas of degrees, technology transfer, and career services.   The University of Florida excelled in all areas.

NRC Awards Chair, Lisa Skumatz said, “Florida’s program has achieved very high performance!   We honored it because it is such a model for other programs to emulate.”

For nearly three decades, the University of Florida has been a leader in recycling through its research, education and training, and campus operations.

The cutting edge research directed by UF’s Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management has advanced knowledge leading to better regulation and policy around managing construction and demolition debris, hazardous waste, medical waste, recycling and reuse.

Students in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment (ESSIE) engage in field and laboratory research related to waste management, landfill design, and beneficial use of waste materials.

The UF Training, Research and Education for Environmental Occupations (TREEO) Center offers required training courses for operators of hazardous and solid waste facilities throughout the state of Florida.

On the operations side, UF Facilities Services provides comprehensive recycling, reuse, and composting services to students, faculty, and staff throughout the 2,000 acre main campus.  In 2016, UF diverted 56.3% of its waste from landfills.

The National Recycling Coalition is a non-profit organization focused on promoting and enhancing materials management in North America, with a network of more than 6,000 members extending across waste reduction, reuse, composting and recycling. For nearly 40 years, NRC has been a leader in driving education and policy around recycling. Learn more about the NRC at www.NRCRecycles.org