With just over a week left, Manteca High has shaken up the Recycling Rumble standings.

The Buffaloes have jumped into first place in this national recycling competition among schools and businesses with a total of 5,077 items.

“I don’t want to let our guard down,” Manteca High Technical Support Advisor Michelle Halla said. “I did a contest like this seven or eight years ago, sent in a bunch of stuff and figured we’d get it. I figured we’d won.”

But…

“Somebody came from behind and walloped us. My goal now is to send out a box a day. I see these numbers change every day. It’s exciting, but also nerve-wracking.”

Two weeks ago, Manteca High was fifth with 1,543 items. At the time, Halla was sitting on roughly 1,600 ink cartridges and waiting on another 1,000.

When that cache was finally shipped and processed, Manteca High, a school with a history of green projects, rocketed up the standings.

At last count, Manteca led St. Vincent De Paul (3,708) by 1,369 pieces. Learning Tree (3,374) was third, Winterset Elementary (2,650) fourth and Thornebrooke Elementary (2,409) fifth.

Recycling Rumble is a nationwide drive among schools and businesses, each attempting to collect and donate large quantities of used ink and toner cartridges, mp3 and iPods, headphones (not ear buds), GPS devices, digital cameras and cell phones.

The items do not have to be in working order.

Halla says the school has until Thursday, April 18, to collect recyclable items and ship them out.

The donations not only net Manteca High normal recycling money, but enter it into a contest for an iPad. Should it win, Manteca High plans to award the iPad to one of its students.

Manteca High has earned approximately $1,200 so far, Halla said. The Rumble also features a one-one-one challenge, pitting two contestants against one another. The winner receives an additional 25 percent of their earnings.

Manteca is leading its challenger, EscaRosa CFC of Florida, 5,077-815.

The gap could grow, too. Halla estimates she’s shipped 45 boxes of recyclables since the contest began. She has an additional six boxes in transit.

Donations can be dropped off in the schools administration office. For more information or shipping information, contact (209) 858-7340 ext. 56857.

– James Burns