The University of Iowa, in partnership with Waste Management, recycled approximately 6,020 pounds of material from Kinnick Stadium following their game against Northern Iowa. The amount of waste diverted from the landfill exceeded the amount of trash collected, which equaled approximately 5,380 pounds.
This recycling rate is up 35 percent from the baseline set last season at the Iowa vs. Michigan game, when approximately 25 percent of the waste generated was recycled and diverted from the landfill.
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“The University of Iowa established the game day recycling program to encourage sustainable behaviors in our students, faculty, alumni and fans,” said Damian Simcox, Director of Facilities, University of Iowa Athletics. “The success of the program and the impact we’ve been able to make not only benefit the university, but the entire community.”
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The game day recycling program is led by the Iowa Recycling Team, a partnership to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill after football games. This team includes the University of Iowa Athletics, Facilities Management, the Office of Sustainability and Waste Management. The University of Iowa has partnered with Waste Management for their recycling needs since September 2011.
“The Iowa Recycling Team and the game day recycling program represent a key objective for Waste Management; as we meet our customers’ needs, it helps us reach our goal to recycle 20 million tons a year by 2020,” said Lisa Disbrow, spokesperson for Waste Management. “Football season provides an opportunity to make a real difference in recycling habits, and our success so far this season has exceeded expectations.”
This game day recycling program is part of the UI’s 2020 Vision sustainability goal of diverting 60 percent of waste from the landfill by 2020. For information about volunteering for the Iowa Recycling Team, see http://sustainability.uiowa.edu/gameday-recycling/ or contact the Office of Sustainability at 319-335-5517 or recycle@uiowa.edu.