From: Bartels, Bart A
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 10:43 AM
To: Busboom, Bobbi R; Stalcup, Holly M; Conlon, Terence F; Willis, Leonard; Ensign, Jason W; Marley, Elizabeth K; Brown, Kent William; Swanson, Bradley K; Houser, Barry L; Knox, Timothy A; Aubrey, Dawn
Cc: Pai, Shantanu Santosh
Subject: Game Day Recycling Challenge Update

Hi All,

Much is happening this week to prepare for this weekend’s game so I thought I would send out an update to keep everyone on the same page.  If you have any thoughts or concerns regarding the following activities, please let me know.

1.        Yesterday Shantanu and I worked with volunteers to prepare the stadium for this weekend’s Game Day Recycling Challenge.  The following was accomplished:

a.       Single trash bins were moved into 3-bin stations that include landfill, compost, and recycling.  Each station was set up with new signage and appropriate liners.  The stations were set up on the ground and fifth floors on the east and west sides of the stadium.  Stations were also set up in the Horseshoe. 

b.      Coca Cola dropped off 15 recycling bins yesterday.  Nine white coke bins with black tops were disbursed to areas of need on the ground floor and in the horseshoe.  Six black Coke recycling bottles will be used in the preferred seating areas. 

c.       Slim Jim recycling and waste bins have been dropped off in the pantry areas on the preferred seating floors but not yet set up.

2.       Terry Conlon has been helpful in changing out some of the food service products for the game to compostable materials.  His group will be serving coffee in compostable cups with compostable lids.  They will also be serving most hotdogs “made to order” so there won’t be a need to place them in foil/paper wrappers but instead serving the items in compostable boats.  Paper plates are being used instead of plastic and compostable forks have been purchased.  He was not able to find an acceptable product to replace the nacho or pretzel trays so those will still go to landfill but thanks for all the effort you put into this.    

3.       Brad Swanson has agreed to include a mention about the event in the pregame script.  Thanks Brad.

4.       Block I will be doing a “card trick” to raise awareness about the recycling competition.

5.       Jason and Beth have been working with us to provide “back of the house” sorting in the premium seating areas.  This will enable catchment of recyclable and compostable materials in the club areas that have limited space.  It will also enable composting all the food waste from the Friday night reception dinner.  That is reason for the slim Jim bins in the pantries.  Great ideas.  Thanks for that.

6.       Barry is working with band to march into a recycling logo at half-time.  How cool is that!  Thanks Barry.

Still to do:

1.        We will stop over on Friday at 10am to finish setting up and make any needed adjustments.  This includes:

a.       Set up stations in the student section and adjoining area.

b.      Set up stations in the pantry areas including proper liners.

c.       The composting roll-off will be delivered.  We will add signage.

d.      Restrooms in the preferred seating areas will be supplied with compost capabilities.  Each stainless steel bin will be supplied with a small sign the reads “Paper Towels for compost”.  The bins will also be supplied with compostable bags. 

e.      The third floor will be set up with signage on the bins and recycling bins. 

2.       On game day about 150 volunteers will arrive at the Varsity entrance.  We will have staff on hand to check them in, provide wrist bands, lanyards, (vests if available) and give directions to their stations.  That day we will also have volunteers on hand to provide breaks and address any issues that might arise.  We have 4 hand held radios for us to communicate.  We will avoid using and channels already being used. 

3.       During the game, the volunteers will attend each station, offering assistance to any fans that look like they need it.  I have directed all involved to avoid confrontation and that some people may not want to recycle.  Accept that and move on to those that want help.

4.       After the game the volunteers will scan the stadium and pick out all recyclable and compostable materials.  Landfill materials will be left for the facilities staff collect as usual. 

5.       All materials from the roll-offs will be collected on Sunday and weighed.  Those results will be posted on the Game Day Recycling Challenge website and compared to the other Big Ten teams. 

A huge thank you goes out to all of you for enabling this to happen.  Please forward this email to anyone that should be informed about the event.  What an awesome opportunity to do great things.  As always, please contact me with any concerns or corrections.

Cheers,

Bart

iSEE leaders provided an introduction to the SSLC

Six Objectives: Facilitate communication, facilitate collaboration, provide a forum for student leaders to voice their opinions to iSEE and thereby to the campus administration, help identify students who can serve on iSEE working groups or advisory groups, help identify potential interns, encourage more awareness about sustainability among student body

Unofficial objective: Create political will/pressure to implement sustainability initiatives

Topics covered:

• 2010 iCAP progress toward 2015 objectives
• iSEE Congress
• Zero Waste Game Day
• SSLC organizational structure

The University is participating in its first Game Day Recycling Challenge at the October 25th homecoming game against the University of Minnesota.  For the event the usual landfill bins will be replaced with 3-bin stations to separate landfill, recycling, and compost.  The materials collected will be weighed, the diversion rate calculated, and then entered into a friendly national competition.  To volunteer for this event, please email Bart Bartels at bbartel@illinois.edu.