Scarlet, Gray and Green Recycling Update – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
Past two home games ups program’s total to more than 200 tons of collected recyclable materials in three seasons
COLUMBUS, Ohio – With totals in from the past two home football games vs. Minnesota and New Mexico State, the Ohio State University’s Scarlet, Gray and Green sustainability program has now topped 200 total tons of recyclable materials on football home dates in and around Ohio Stadium. Currently the program has gathered nearly 60 tons through six home games in 2009.
In the last home date vs. NMSU, SG&G totaled 3.01 tons inside Ohio Stadium and another 2.91 tons outside the Horseshoe. For the year, SG&G has gathered nearly 30 tons both in the stadium and in outlying tailgate areas.
At each home game, tailgaters receive white plastic recycling bags to encourage collection of bottles, cans, paper and cardboard. Fans then can deposit the bags into scarlet recycling dumpsters located in tailgate lots on campus.
Several new SG&G initiatives have been introduced this year as 12 solar-powered recyclable-compacting receptacles have been deployed around the Fan Fest area south of St. John Arena and near the north rotunda of Ohio Stadium.
The trial for a “zero-waste” concession stand also made its debut Sept. 5 in Section 19A of Ohio Stadium. In cooperation with stadium concessions provider, Sodexo Sports & Leisure Services, compostable serving containers are being tested at 19A to determine its feasibility as an alternative to non-compostable serve ware. Using compostable serve ware will eliminate refuse by converting all food products and serving containers into compostable or recyclable materials.
Pedal Instead
The “Pedal Instead” program provides bicycle valet service during the Ohio State home football games. To start the season, the corral took in more than 450 bikes vs. Navy Sept. 5, fully utilizing a new overflow area reserved on the basketball courts just south of Drake Union.
The main Pedal Instead Bike Corral is located on the south side of Woody Hayes Drive on the east side of the bike path. Bicyclists are provided with a “claim check” and can retrieve their bicycles after the game. Donations for the service are accepted.
About Scarlet, Gray and Green Home Game Recycling Program
The collaborative recycling effort between the Ohio State Department of Athletics and Office of Business and Finance began in January 2007. The University initiated a sustainability program both in the stadium and at the tailgating lots to help address the amount of trash generated on campus at Buckeye football home games.
Recycling is one element of the University’s Scarlet, Gray & Green sustainability program. In fall 2009, a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be used to purchase recycling containers for all classroom areas. Additional efforts include:
- Campus bio-diesel conversion
- Green office supplies
- Energy-saving lights
- Green Building Design Construction
- Building energy audits
- Implementation of energy conservation projects
