UF has set a goal of zero waste on campus by 2015, and a soft drink company wants to help make that happen.
This year's Pepsi Refresh Project will sponsor one $10,000 grant and one $5,000 grant for student organizations that develop campaigns to help reach the zero-waste goal.
There are seven finalists in the two categories.
Students can vote for the idea they would like to see happen at gator1.ufl.edu/zerowaste. Voting closes at noon on Feb. 29.
In 2010, Pepsi Refresh awarded Dance Marathon at UF a $15,000 grant and Gators Do It With Helmets On with a $5,000 grant, both for improving the community. The competition did not include a zero-waste stipulation.
This time, UF Business Services, Pepsi representatives and the Office of Sustainability decided to link the zero-waste goal with the grant contest.
Last month, a panel of judges from Pepsi, UF Business Services and the Office of Sustainability reviewed project submissions for content and feasibility.
The projects must have expected completion dates within a year of the date the grants are awarded, according to the official rules.
The three $10,000 finalists are Gators Going Green, Florida Alternative Breaks and Gators for a Sustainable Campus.
Gators Going Green has been using Twitter and Facebook to encourage students to vote, said the organization's executive director, Brittnie Baker.
"Going zero-waste is one way we can move in a positive direction for the health of our environment," she said.
Baker said the grant money could make an impact beyond UF's campus.
Pennington said all the ideas are creative and exciting.
"We'd honestly be happy to see any of them win," she said. "Hopefully they get out, rally votes for their ideas and we see some fun stuff come to shape on campus."
Finalists
For the $10,000 grant:
- Gators Going Green proposed a Fraternity Row recycling program.
- Florida Alternative Breaks suggested reducing waste from service trips and going paperless.
- Gators for a Sustainable Campus want to provide game day self-service stations so tailgaters can recycle.
For the $5,000 grant:
- I.D.E.A.S. wants to create a "Recycling Fairy," a costumed mascot who would encourage recycling.
- The Sustainability Interest Group wants to provide recycling bins in the Health Science Center Library.
- Gators for a Sustainable Campus wants to improve recycling within the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
- Benton Engineering Council wants to make its annual Engineering Week a waste-free event.
