Suffolk University finished in the top 17 percent nationally, and fourth among 24 schools statewide, in RecycleMania, an annual waste-reduction and recycling competition.

The University moved up two positions statewide compared to last year.

“In recent years, our consistently strong performance has solidified us as a regional and national leader in campus waste reduction and recycling,” said Campus Sustainability Coordinator Erica Mattison.

Competing against 272 other colleges and universities, Suffolk achieved a ranking of 46 in the “Grand Champion” category, which is based on the percentage of overall waste that is recycled.The University has a recycling rate of 45 percent.

In addition, Suffolk finished:

• Number 1 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)
• Number 2 in Massachusetts for Waste Minimization (pounds of material generated per person)
• Top 16 percent nationwide for recycling rate among schools in Suffolk’s size classification

“At Suffolk, employees and students work together to identify and act on opportunities that make our university more environmentally responsible and cost effective,” said Mattison. “We are in good company – hundreds of schools across the country participate in RecycleMania and send a message that we can do better than the status quo.”

Participating schools collectively recovered over 90 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials, preventing the release of more than 120,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere.

Suffolk has participated in the eight-week RecycleMania challenge since 2007

The University has more than doubled its recycling rate since 2007, mainly by investing in equipment and educational outreach and changing business practices.