As tailgating season begins and Tiger fans from all around the country step outside to honor this tradition, it is important to note that 50 to 70 tons of trash are left out after every game, ranging from food to bottles to plastic plates. Littering can have negative effects on the environment, such as lowering biodiversity and spreading microplastics into the soil and water sources.
However, LSU Landscaping Services prepares for these home games months in advance, collaborating with the athletic department and sustainability services to gather supplies and create a budget to find environmentally friendly solutions, such as adding compost bins to the mix of disposable cans available on gamedays.
“Our goal is to ensure every tailgate spot on campus has a garbage can and a recycling can at their tailgate and if they don’t have one at their tailgate, they have one in close proximity,” said Jeff Brucato, the head of Landscaping Services.
In the last 10 to 15 years, awareness about trash being left around has become apparent to fans and students tailgating on campus, leading to people picking up their trash because of the accessibility of the disposable bins.
SEC Nation also offers a competition among schools within the SEC to see who can recycle the most. It was noted that Louisiana State University has won the competition a few times solidifying the school as an environmentally friendly institution. But it does not stop there in terms of action that LSU students take to keep their environment clean.
In talking to Brucato, he mentioned that fraternities and sororities come out in the morning to volunteer their time picking up trash with the Landscaping Team. Brucato cited Rho Epsilon Zeta chapter at LSU reached out to him recently to volunteer their time helping them with the cleanup.
“It’s very important. Tailgating is part of the culture here. It’s tradition,” said Brucato.
In 2020, Jennifer Richardson was driving to the grocery store when she noticed how much litter was scattered around the building. That sight inspired her to take action and start her volunteer group ‘Keep Tiger Town Beautiful,’ which cleans up trash all around the city.
Since then the group has garnered over 1000 followers on Facebook and maintains a steady number of volunteers each week.
Keep Tiger Town Beautiful mainly focuses on cleaning up trash outside of the city to maintain it’s beauty and pristine condition. Richardson said that in the three years that she has started the group they have picked up 37,000 contractor bags and placed trash cans in areas of the city that you would not necessarily think of such as bus stops.
“It’s an amazing thing when you have 80 people come out and the city is just so blighted and within and hour and a half it just looks like an entirely different city. It’s so satisfying,” said Richardson.
To volunteer with Keep Tiger Town Beautiful, you can send a message to their Facebook page or check the calendar available on their website for volunteering opportunities at keeptigertownbeautiful.com.
