Scarlet, Gray and Green Recycling Up to the Challenge in 2010 – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
With 70 tons collected in five games, OSU’s game-day sustainability program second-to-none
COLUMBUS, Ohio – It is music to Mother Nature’s ears: “Trash is down and recycling is up,” so says Corey Hawkey, Ohio State University Sustainability Coordinator.
After five games on the 2010 home football schedule, Ohio State and its fans have reduced production of waste by 24 percent compared to the 2009 season and have amped up the sustainability efforts to the tune of a 48 percent increase over last season.
With 70 tons collected through the five home dates, Ohio State has gained plenty of momentum as it enters the Game Day Challenge vs. Purdue this Saturday. The Game Day Challenge is a friendly competition for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction at their football games. This Challenge is an initiative of the EPA’s WasteWise program.
Ohio State is taking great strides to win the competition. For the first time ever, food waste that cannot be donated will be sent to a compost facility.
“I attended several presentations regarding football recycling and as far as I’m concerned, we have one of the best waste minimization/recycling programs of any college or university in the country,” Hawkey said after returning from a sustainability conference in Denver this month.
In the last three home dates versus Ohio, Eastern Michigan and Indiana, Ohio State – with the help of Buckeye fans inside Ohio Stadium and in the surrounding tailgate lots – has reported an average of roughly 13 tons of recycling materials collected per game.
Ohio State’s goal for the Game Day Challenge Saturday is to reach a .3 pounds-per-capita recycling ratio. The program topped that mark with a .36 pounds-per-person vs. Miami Sept. 11 and has come within several hundredths of that mark in the other four home contests.
“The more fans recycle and the less waste they throw away will help reach this goal,” Hawkey said.”Our recycling rate is 46 percent, nearly half of all the waste (in and around Ohio Stadium).”
Scarlet, Gray and Green Recylcing Program at OSU
With the kickoff of the 2010 football season, the Scarlet, Gray and Green program started its fourth year at Ohio State. A partnership between The Department of Athletics and Facilities Operations and Development’s Energy Services and Sustainability, SG&G’s goal is to make OSU sporting events more environmentally friendly.
Tailgaters are encouraged to host recycling friendly pre-and-postgame gatherings, by bringing their own bags for recycling or looking for bags provided by the university.
Recyclables can be placed in any of the scarlet recycling dumpsters in the campus lots. To learn more about SG&G in 2010, visit: http://recycle.osu.edu or contact: recycle@osu.edu.
Don’t forget to show your Buckeye Pride and recycle!
Have you ever wondered how the recycling program works at home football games? The Ohio State University Athletics Department and Facilities Operations and Development’s Energy Services and Sustainability have partnered to ensure we are reducing our impact on the environment at all home football games. The Best Fans in the Land are OSU Buckeyes that recycle!
Recycling Inside Ohio Stadium
Don’t see a recycling bin? Don’t worry. Waste Management collects all the trash from the stadium and retrieves the recyclable materials at their sorting facility. Do not forget to check for the recycling statistics on the scoreboard during the game.
Recycling in the tailgate lots
Recycling in tailgate lots for home Buckeye games is easy. Tailgaters are encouraged to bring their own bags for recycling or they can look for the recycling bags provided by the University. Recycling can be placed in one of the many red recycling dumpsters in the lots. Rumpke of Ohio collects the recycling and trash after the game and sorts it all at their facility in Columbus.
Tips to Green-over your Tailgate
- Visit http://greencbus.org/site/ for tips on how to Green your tailgate!”
- 1. Use local and/or organic foods, beverages, and condiments (ask your caterer about these options).
- 2. Opt for products in bulk; choose minimal or recyclable packaging (avoid single-serving packaging).
- 3. Incorporate reusable items such as plates, silverware, cups, tablecloths, napkins, etc.
- 4. Choose eco-friendly power sources such as propane (with a trade-in option), biofuel, solar, pedal, and rechargeable batteries
