Published: May 4, 2006

The University of Colorado at Boulder received the 2006 School Recycling Award in the college and university category from the American Forest & Paper Association in Washington, D.C.

The University of Oregon also received the award in a tie for category honors.

Established in 1976, CU Recycling has become one of the leading campus recycling programs in the nation. The program's mission is to divert recyclables from the waste stream in a cost-effective way while promoting the benefits of recycling and providing opportunities for meaningful student involvement.

CU Recycling educates students, educators and custodial staff and executes programs including America Recycles Day, RecycleMania, campus Move-In and Move-Out and Green Teams.

The results are impressive, according to the AF&PA. In 2004, more than 1,100 tons of paper were recovered -- 93 percent of total recyclables. And CU-Boulder recovered 35,880 pounds of cardboard during campus move-in, more than an 80 percent recovery rate.

"This year's Recycling Award winners have exhibited innovation and social responsibility," said AF&PA President & CEO W. Henson Moore. "Their accomplishments in recycling have set new precedents. They are making great achievements in businesses, communities and schools across the country."

The AF&PA Recycling Awards were created to recognize outstanding individual, business, community and school paper recycling efforts. In 2005, a record-high 51.5 percent of the paper consumed in the United States was recovered for recycling, according to the association.

AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest, paper and wood products industry and represents more than 200 companies and related associations that engage in or represent the manufacture of pulp, paper, paperboard and wood products.

For more information about the 2006 AF&PA Recycling Award winners visit . To learn more about CU Recycling visit recycling.colorado.edu/index.html.