asked cadets to identify how to improve plastic bottle
and can recycling within the Corps of Cadets. As part
of the scope statement, cadets were tasked to identify
a location where the Directorate of Cadet Activities
could operate a bottle and can redemption program
in which a portion of the redemption proceeds would
fund cadet company activities. Cadets worked on
these projects throughout the semester, and at the con-
clusion of each project, cadets briefed the West Point
Energy Council on their recommended solutions.
As an example, the seniors working on plastic
bottle and can recycling identified a location for the
redeemable operation. Immediately, the West Point
Energy Council acted on the cadets’ recommendation
and one month later secured a room and appropri-
ate resources, and began the reinvigorated recycling
program in February 2011. Simultaneously, cadets
and faculty in the Department of Geography and En-
vironmental Engineering initiated participation in a
nation-wide collegiate recycling competition called
RecycleMania in conjunction with the new Corps
wide recycling program.
The coupling of the recycling program and re-
deemable operations with the RecycleMania competi-
tion proved hugely successful in motivating cadets to
recycle. Cadet companies were awarded the full 5�� de- de- de-
posit for each New York state redeemable item turned
in by their company. In addition, all recyclable items
(redeemable and non-redeemable) were counted and
recorded with the first, second and third place com-
panies earning cash prizes generously provided by
our Directorate of Cadet Activities. Although many
cadets were motivated to recycle for altruistic reasons,
the chance to earn company funds accelerated the pro-
gram’s implementation. In only its first semester of
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