For more information & resources on how to build an exceptional recycling program for your stadium, click here.
Building a successful venue waste management program can be quite complex, and fitting a strong program into your already jam-packed day-to-day operations may make your head spin, but the rewards are plentiful. That’s why we’ve compiled the 10 best resources that will help you implement an award-winning waste and recycling program for your stadium!
Standardize your program, add more recycling stations, reduce contamination—these are all the typical phrases you’ll hear in the recycling community about how to improve diversion rates and reduce costs at your sports venue. Although these practices are tried and true, there are many moving parts to each that makes tackling them successfully a little more difficult—but that’s where you come in!
The team at Busch Systems has put together the following essential list of 10 best resources to help you learn how to run a spectacular recycling & waste management program at your stadium. Even better, they’re all free! Okay, yes. Some may ask for you to share your email address to access some of them, but that’s a small price to pay for the invaluable information you’ll get!
If you know of some more resources that’ll help your fellow venue managers, please comment below with your suggestions and we’ll add them to the list. And don’t forget to bookmark this page, so you can refer back to it when you’ve got some more time to brush up on your recycling & waste management skills for your community.
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- Recycling at Events: A Guide to Reducing Waste at Any Event [pdf]
~15 min read.
This guide provides you, the event organizer, a convenient way to successfully plan recycling programs and other green practices for special events. Beginning with pre-event planning, to day-of-event tips, and post-event evaluation, you can take your event beyond just recycling to hosting an environmentally friendly and sustainable event.
- Venue Recycling in the U.S.A. [pdf]
~110 min read.
A Report on the Potential Recovery of Beverage Containers at Venues and Events.
Prepared by the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) in cooperation with The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR). Funded by a Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. - <!– New List ItemHow to Involve Concessionaires & Vendors in Your Recycling Program [pdf]
~30 min read.
This fact sheet is written for operations managers, recycling and event coordinators, and other key decision makers involved in planning and managing public venues and events. It explains the key role in recycling and waste prevention played by concessionaires, vendors, and exhibitors.
- <!– New List ItemRecycling at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium [Case Study]
~100 min read.
With a 13-year-old recycling program, The Pennsylvania State University’s (Penn State) Beaver Stadium in the past diverted nearly 30 tons of recyclables per year from local landfills. A new initiative to promote recycling in the stadium’s tailgating area has helped Penn State more than triple its old recycling record, collecting 112 tons in 2008. Proceeds from the sale of the recycled materials are donated to the local United Way—more than $54,000 to date. - <!– New List ItemCalRecycle – Venues and Events: Reducing Waste [Toolkit]
~120+ min read.
This toolkit, developed by CalRecycle, contains everything you need to build a successful stadium recycling program. Click this link if you’re looking for access to tools and resources to assist venue and event operators, managers, planners, owners, and promoters plan and implement a waste reduction program. These tools are designated for those living in California, which you may know, must adhere to the highest standards when it comes to recycling in the U.S.–so you know it’s good! - EPA: Sustainable Materials Management [Toolkit]
~120+ min read.
Sustainable materials management (SMM) is a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles. It represents a change in how our society thinks about the use of natural resources and environmental protection. By looking at a product’s entire life cycle, we can find new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources and reduce costs.
The EPA has provided this awesome toolkit that covers everything from basic information about SMM, the topics involved in SMM so far, how your organization can help and even tools like the ole’ tried and true WARM method.
- A Guide to Recycling at Sports Venues [pdf]
~90 min read.
In addition to conserving natural resources, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing impacts on the environment, recycling can have economic benefits. Depending on local waste disposal and recycling market conditions, recycling can lead to a reduction in solid waste management costs as revenue is generated from commodities such as cardboard, paper and aluminum.
- Green Sports Alliance: Leveraging the cultural & market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where we live & play. [Association]
Okay, technically this is not a resource…Rules, broken! But if you’re in Venue Management and you’re looking to move towards more sustainable practices at your facility, then this is the place to be. Green Sports Alliance is a champion for all things green at your stadium, including recycling. Joining this association will give you unlimited access to the latest and greatest resources, as well as, most importantly, access to a community of people trying to achieve these same goals.
<!– New List Item - Game-Day Recycling Saves Athletic Departments Money and Helps Communities [Article]
~10 min read.
This article, by author Andrew Cohen, walks through the benefits of operating a game-day recycling program and it’s positive economic and environmental impact on stadiums and their surrounding communities.
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~45 min read.
Collegiate sporting venues have been leading efforts toward zero-waste events in pursuit of more sustainable operations. This study audited the landfill-destined waste generated at the University of Missouri (MU) football stadium in 2014 and evaluated the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) and energy use associated with waste management options, including options that do and do not comply with zero-waste definitions.
- Recycling at Events: A Guide to Reducing Waste at Any Event [pdf]
And there you have it! Plenty of resources to get your journey to sustainable venue waste management started. We’ll continue to update this page as we see more great information come down the pipe. And again, if you think we’ve missed some more resources, feel free to comment below.
Stay tuned!
