11/03/2025
SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College’s sustainability offices are joining forces to incorporate recycling into the popular football rivalry.
From Friday, Nov. 7, until Friday, Nov. 14, the two schools will compete in the Cortaca Can Collection Competition to see who can collect the most 5-cent can deposits.
Each school will donate the funds raised from the collected cans to their local communities. Cortland will contribute its proceeds to Cortland ReUse and Ithaca will donate to Finger Lakes ReUse.
“It’s fun to see athletics, campus events and sustainability come together for one initiative, especially when it’s helping great organizations like Cortland ReUse and Finger Lakes ReUse,” said Megan Swing, SUNY Cortland’s energy and sustainability engagement coordinator.
SUNY Cortland will host two mass collection sites, at the Oscar machine in Hilltop and in the Student Life Center lobby. All cans and bottles will be accepted, as long as they offer a 5-cent deposit reimbursement. Cortland’s Sustainability Office asks for the beverage containers to be emptied, the less sticky the better.
Additionally, 5-cent deposit containers will be placed in each of SUNY Cortland’s residence halls on Thursday, Nov. 6, thanks to Cortland Auxiliary Services, which also will fill those bins with its own donated can collection in support of Cortland ReUse.
Throughout the week of Nov. 10, Green Reps will host Cortaca Can Collection Competition-themed programs.
Students who bring their residence hall Green Rep a 5-cent deposit during the event will also receive a treat.
“I’m excited to see how our campus community can utilize 5-cent deposits created from the New York State Bottle Bill to help advance recycling efforts and utilize funding from them to help support our great local non-profits,” said Scott Doyle, Ithaca College’s director of energy management and sustainability. “More work can be done when we work together.”
Another way students can prepare for Cortaca in a sustainable way is by participating in SUNY Cortland’s 21-Day Sustainability Challenge.
Each day, the Sustainability Office Instagram account, @cortland.greenreps, will post a challenge of the day. Students have until midnight that day to complete the daily eco-challenge and submit their proof. More details on how to enter to win a Cortaca hoodie can be found on Instagram.