As the Mountaineers finalize their game plan forSaturday’s (Sept. 2) home opener, West Virginia University and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection are kicking off a few winning plays of their own.

WVU and Gov. Joe Manchins REAP The Next Generation initiativeare bringing recycling to Mountaineer fans beginning this season. The program is calledMountaineers Recycleand is a pilot recycling campaign that provides bright gold bins and bags in which fans from both sides can recycle plastic bottles and cans.

Members of WVU ’s Student Government Associationand Mountaineer Maniacs willdistribute yellow recycling bags totailgaters from 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Mountaineer Field and”law school hill.”Those interested in helping can e-mail sga@mail.wvu.edu .

The proceeds from this season-long campaign will benefit WVU Childrens Hospital.

Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan is a complicated name for a program with a simple missionto keep West Virginia wild and wonderful and litter-free,Manchin said.Mountaineers Recycleis a winning play for all of West Virginia. The children, the school and the environment all benefit.

Other universities, colleges and schools around the state also have the opportunity to start their own recycling campaign with help from REAP ,Manchin added.

REAP is located within the DEP and provides supplies, support and even a helping hand in community cleanup, recycling and beautification projects.

To learn more aboutMountaineers Recycleor to find out how to start a similar program, call 800-322-5530.

In a series of television and radio spots, Manchin and Mountaineer mascot Brady Campbell encourage all football fans to place their cans and plastic bottles in the more than 200 gold bins at Milan Puskar Stadium and fan parking areas.

I know my fellow students and fans will recognize the value of this program and take part,Campbell said.With all proceeds benefiting the Childrens Hospital, everyone will want to help make a difference. We do have the worlds best fans!

Recycling at WVU is not new. Students and faculty also recycle plastic, aluminum, paper, electronics, fluorescent light bulbs, printer cartridges and scrap metal.

The University also holds the annual Blue and Gold Mine Sale, an end-of-the-year rummage sale of items donated by students, faculty and staff. In May, WVU staff collected more than 20 tons of material that resulted in $9,000 being donated to the United Way of Monongalia and Preston counties.