On January 20, Nikki Palella, Justin Holding, Shawn Patterson, and Dominika Szal, and Daphne Hulse met to discuss the following:

What will be recycled?

• UIUC currently recycles plastics #1&2, metal, aluminum, paper, and cardboard

• Products that can be found at tailgates: paper and plastic products, aluminum, glass

• UIUC does not recycle glass:

  • Would we potentially be able to haul glass to the vendor that UIUC Dining uses? (Midwest Fiber)

    • Check cost with Midwest Fiber.

    • If there is a cost, consider DIA supporting this cost.

      • Selling point: anything recyclable will be free of charge to remove.

  • We would need to provide a separated bin for glass products at each tailgate section

• Aluminum and plastic bottles can be collected, plastic and paper might be accepted depending on its use (plastic cups might be accepted, but any paper/plastic product used for food is most likely going to have to go into landfill)

  • Future idea: use diversion rates from the tailgating and stand pick up collection as segue into DIA concessionaire conversations (because we will eventually hit a wall for our diversion rate if we can’t collect food waste, food-soiled containers, non-recyclable materials)

What will need to be prepared

• Signage regarding what is recyclable, what isn’t (this was successful at the basketball game).

  • Located at all the major parking lots: E14, E32.

    • Contact DIA to understand the SFC parking lot use for tailgating.

  • Could be a signboard located in key points throughout the tailgate areas.

  • In combination: have informational papers (pamphlets) attached to the bags that are handed out that explain what is/isn’t recyclable.

• Centralized bins to collect recyclables and trash:

  • Swingpans, rolloffs, iSEE in a central location.

• Volunteers would be needed (iSEE interns)

  • Roles:

    • Some could walk around carrying bags to give to tailgaters.

    • Some could walk around collecting recyclables specifically and provide information.

    • Some could stand by the bins to ensure that items are placed in the proper location.

    • Have it be shift-based. We learned at the basketball game that that would be most successful. During rush time (1 hour before the game starts, have the most volunteers on board).

• Incentive via raffle:

  • Tailgaters incentivized to recycle, entered into a raffle if they do. Sustainable swag as a giveaway.

Other considerations

• How many tailgating areas are there?

  • How many stands would be needed to cover each tailgating area? How many volunteers per area/in charge of a stand.

  • Grange Grove is popular spot.

  • Initially, we will only target E14 and E32 as this is where the majority of tailgaters will be, then we can expand as initiative develops over time.

• Would we like to try to implement any “zero waste” games to go along with the tailgate recycling as well?

  • Idea: instead of having a zero waste game like we do for basketball, focus efforts on before games (tailgating) and after games (pickup in the stands).

    • We would need ~100-150 volunteers for stand pick up after games, assuming a 45min-1hour pickup session

      • Incentivize with free football game tickets.

      • Pro: having volunteers pick up would assist the DIA staff who would otherwise have to pick up the items from the stand (and put them in the landfill).

      • Con: less interaction/engagement with attendees.

• Shawn’s idea: Gamification. Have service fraternities/sororities assist with the tailgate recycling and compete with each other to see who can collect the most?

  • Could implement this within the pickup in the stands, too.

• See how our partnership with Coca-Cola could play into this tailgate plan - could they assist with volunteer t-shirts, costs etc?

• How many games would we want to implement this program?

  • In 2022 UIUC held 7 home games between the end of August and the start of November (the final 4 of these games were Big Ten; bigger crowds). 6 took place on Saturdays. 1 occurred on a Thursday.

  • Start small, learn the dynamic of the space. Start pre-season, if possible. Work up to a Big Ten game.

    • Once we get a hang of how everything works, we can aim big.

• Seek recommendations from peer schools (OSU).

  • Results from the Big 10 survey could really help.

F&S’ role

• Collecting recyclables and trash after the event.

• Providing the blue recycling bags.

• Providing containers (free) for the tailgating spaces.

  • Reduces the overhead cost for DIA.

• Daphne (ZW team - Shreya + Dominika) + Shawn.

Timeline

• January - May: Planning, strategizing with iCAP ZW team, F&S, DIA, iSEE, Coca-Cola as needed.

• June-July: Buffer for any remaining planning. Prepare and execute publicity ahead of the fall semester.

• Early-Mid August: Heavier publicity, recruit volunteers.

• Late August: Launch the program.

• Early November: Close the program

Immediate next steps

• Dominika: Reach out to Midwest Fiber to determine the cost of glass recycling.
• Shreya: Reach out to DIA (Tim Knox) about how the State Farm Center parking lots are used during tailgates.
• Team: Look into peer schools' programs for best practices.
• Daphne: Schedule a Memorial Stadium Tour (for the stand recycling initiative).
• Team: Create a more refined vision/roadmap, meet with the group for follow up.