The University is looking to join exclusive company. Only legends of sports, like the Michael Jordan-era Bulls, the 1998-2000 Yankees or the 1946-49 Cleveland Browns, have accomplished a three-peat. This November, the University seeks to join this three-peat company by winning their third consecutive National GameDay Recycling Challenge.
“That would be quite the feat if we could win a third year in a row,” said Campus Sustainability Manager Sarah Temple.
The University has taken the previous two titles in total recycling, recycling a total of 164,600 pounds of waste on selected game days in 2015 and 2016. The program awards two schools annually, one for diversion rate and another for total recycling. Numbers are calculated based on the amount of recycling and trash collected before, during and after the game on a specified gameday.
“Before, during and after the game, recycle anything recyclable. That’s the big thing,” Temple said.
Waste is collected from both the stadium and tailgate grounds, though schools can choose to only report stadium numbers. Schools track weights on recyclables, organic food waste and trash, but can only be ranked for categories in which they have weight data.
For the 2017 Recycling Challenge, the University has chosen the Nov. 11 game against Arkansas as the gameday to be reported, Temple said. Students can participate in the challenge by simply recycling on gameday.
The University is doing some new things for the challenge this year. Students and visitors can take pictures of themselves recycling and tag LSU Campus Sustainability on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for a chance to win a football signed by LSU coach Ed Orgeron, Temple said. The University is also partnering with BASF in a new green team initiative.
“We are assembling a team with the help of BASF. They are trying to recruit people with us, to form a go-green team to educate tailgaters on gameday,” Temple said.
There is also a $250 stipend being offered for LSU organizations who provide volunteers for the campus cleanup efforts on Sunday, Temple said.
Temple said wood pallets were particularly important to the recycling effort because they weigh 30 to 35 pounds each.
“This year, we’re trying to include every wood pallet we can find associated with the game,” Temple said. “If there’s a wood pallet in Tiger Stadium associated with the game, we’re going to recycle it.”