Game Day Recycling

Increased engagement with fans and a streamlined process behind the scenes led to a successful second season for the university’s Game Day Recycling program. During the Demon Deacons’ first six home games, fans, volunteers, and Athletics staff members worked together to divert nearly 7 tons of cans, bottles and cardboard recycling from the landfill.

The highest diversion rate for any single game occurred during Homecoming weekend. As the Deacs battled the Hokies on the field, Deacon fans of all ages ensured that 19 percent of waste from the stadium hit the recycling center instead of the landfill. Fans recycled more than 2700 pounds of cans and bottles alone in the tailgating lots and inside the stadium during this game.

“The tailgaters were very excited this year,” Game Day Recycling intern, junior Erin Murphy, said. “People expected us to be there (this year) and were really happy to see us.”

Turf Director for Athletics, Abby McNeal, credits increased communication and education as game changers for the program this year. Season ticket holders received “Go Deacs! Go Green!” window decals with green tailgating tips before the season began, to get them excited about the program. The recycling message was also displayed on the new video board at the stadium at various points throughout games.

More extensive training of staff members and clearer labeling of recycling containers within the stadium helped staff members execute their tasks more easily and ensured that visitors received a consistent, clear message.  Caitlin Brooks Edwards, Wake Forest Fellow, said. “If people focus on recycling cans and bottles (including plastic and glass) the process is simplified and we avoid confusion and contamination of the bins.”

The first home football game of the season on September 10 kicked off the second season of the university’s Game Day Recycling program. By helping distribute recycling bins to tailgaters and encouraging fans to do the right thing, students, staff and faculty continue to support Deacon fans in diverting thousands of pounds of waste from landfills.

Junior Erin Murphy, this year’s Game Day Recycling intern who coordinates the efforts of program volunteers, decided to become more involved after volunteering with the program her sophomore year. “I had a great time interfacing with fans,” she said. “And it was a fun way to enjoy game day. I felt like the program was really making a difference in waste reduction at our tailgates.”

With strategically placed recycling bins to collect recyclable cans and bottles, program organizers strive to make it as easy as possible for fans to recycle. A tent near the Bridger Field House serves as the Game Day Recycling headquarters. From the main tent, receptacles specially outfitted with circular openings are wheeled out to the gold, blue, and red lots to tailgate tents. Meanwhile, smaller groups of tailgaters can pick up clear plastic bags to dispose of their recyclables. Fans should look for the “Go Deacs — Go Green” logo that marks bins designated for cans and bottles.

Murphy aims to increase the amount of recyclables collected this year and to involve even more Deacon fans with the program. She said the program will be adapted to accommodate changes made to the layout of the tailgating concourse. “We have added more recycling bins to the program, and included more receptacles in the stadium as well,” Murphy said.

The program is made possible through the combined efforts of Athletic Department staff members, the Office of Sustainability, and student volunteers. Director of Facilities for Athletics, Chris Stilley, and Director of Turf Management, Abby McNeal, have worked to ensure the success of the program in preparation for its second season. Jim Carlin and Dean Jarvis of the Athletic Department have also been instrumental in implementing the collection program. Great Outdoor Provision Company has generously co-sponsored the “Green Team” volunteer t-shirts and “Go Deacs — Go Green” fan koozies for the second consecutive year.

This year, notice of the program went out to all season ticket holders by way of a printed postcard with game day recycling instructions on one side and a “Go Deacs –  Go Green” window cling on the other. Many fans responded by visiting the headquarters tent during the first home game to thank organizers for providing more outlets for recycling and to pick up supplies. Former sustainability intern and current Wake Forest Sustainability Fellow, Caitlin Brooks, is supporting the program from the staff side this year. “Fans expect to find opportunities to recycle their waste wherever they go. We’re pleased to try to help meet their needs.”

By Jane Connors, Communications and Outreach Intern

Photo by De'Noia Woods, Photography Intern

Deacon fans young and old have something new to cheer about at this season’s home football games. Tailgaters in the Gold, Blue, Red, and Green lots recycled more than 1000 pounds of cans and bottles at the two opening home games, as part of the university’s new Game Day Recycling program.

Jenny King, the office of sustainability Game Day Recycling intern worked throughout the summer to ensure a successful roll-out of the program on September 2. New students enrolled in the SPARC and Sustainability in Action programs donated their time before orientation to convert unused black trash and recycling cans into bins suitable for the tailgating areas of BB&T Stadium. They drilled can-sized holes in the tops of the bins and painted a gold ring around these holes. The bins are latched to discourage contamination and stickers remind fans to deposit only cans and bottles.

These large containers are wheeled out to tailgating tents throughout the parking lots. Smaller tailgating locations receive clear plastic bags for their collection. Brand new green recycling cans are placed around the entrances of the stadium to catch can and bottle waste from drinks not allowed within the stadium gates. The Game Day Recycling program encourages recycling of cans and bottles, but is not set up for the collection of paper.

All materials are collected right before kick-off by Athletic Department staff members. Director of Facilities Chris Stilley and Director of Turf Management Abby McNeal have been instrumental in the successful roll-out of the program. The collection program would not be possible without the assistance of Athletic Department stalwarts Jim Carlin and Dean Jarvis.

This program is powered by volunteers and the interns from the Office of Sustainability. The program rewards volunteers with a small amount of money based on the number of hours worked. This money is given to a student organization of the volunteer’s choice. The more volunteers from an organization and the more hours volunteered the more money that organization receives. The popular “Green Team” volunteer t-shirts and “Go Deacs Go Green” koozies for the fans were generously sponsored by the Great Outdoor Provision Company.

The tailgate collection program supplements the existing collection programs inside the stadium concourse and in the luxury suites.

By Caitlin Brooks, Communications and Outreach Intern