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UF News University of Florida

Gators to compete for recycling title at Saturday’s football game

November 17, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida will be among 78 universities across the country that will participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 Game Day Challenge on Saturday.

The challenge is for schools to design a waste reduction plan for one home football game and see who can reduce, reuse and recycle the most waste in October and November. Winners will be announced in December.

The amount of waste generated and recycled will determine the winners in several categories:

TailGator Green Team volunteers will distribute recycling bags to various high traffic tailgating zones across campus and also hand-sort recyclables from the trash into recycling bins around campus. Fans can participate by recycling at their tailgates and throughout Ben Hill Griffin Stadium when UF plays Furman on Saturday.

Founded in 2006, the TailGator Green Team’s purpose is to encourage fans to recycle when tailgating, helping the university work toward its goal of zero waste while also educating and empowering fans on the importance of sustainability.

Between 2006 and 2010, the Green Team collected 89.11 tons of recyclables, making a significant impact on the game day waste stream. The University Athletic Association has also been proactive in waste reduction measures, greatly expanding recycling opportunities within the stadium. Most concession items are recyclable or compostable, and the stadium is working toward the universitywide goal of zero waste by 2015.

To learn more about UF’s Zero Waste Goal and Recycling Initiatives:
http://sustainable.ufl.edu/zero-waste/

To learn more about the EPA Game Day Challenge:
http://www.epa.gov/wastes/partnerships/wastewise/challenge/gameday