During Earth Month, Leave No Trace hosted the second annual #LeaveNoTrash University Challenge, designed to raise awareness of sustainability practices and low-waste efforts by engaging campuses in a friendly challenge from April 19th to 27th. Colleges and universities competed against each other to see who could clean up and record the most trash and collect important data to help their campus understand how to address litter and waste.

More than 550 people from 11 colleges and universities across the United States and 7 universities in Nigeria participated. Collectively, they picked up over 2,200 gallons of trash from their campuses and communities!

The top three colleges and universities by gallons of trash picked up are:
    1. Brevard College
    2. Colorado State University
    3. Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

The top three groups by number of participants are:
    1. Unique Mappers of Nigeria
    2. Brevard College
    3. Colorado State University

The top three types of trash picked up in the United States are:
    1. Food wrappers
    2. Plastic bottles
    3. Tie between paper waste and plastic bags

Students from Colorado State University helped lead the challenge for their senior capstone project. They created resources for colleges and universities that joined, led a virtual information session, put together a Story Map with the results, and more. Check out the Story Map here.

Inspired to join the #LeaveNoTrash University Challenge next year? Fill out the form below to get involved.