On March 2, WCIA covered the Illinois vs. Michigan Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste Event.

Video link

Article link

News release

Good afternoon,

Thank you for volunteering at the Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste event last Thursday! You were among ~100 other student volunteers who signed up and helped initiate recycling within State Farm Center. The community-level work you have done to raise awareness for sustainability is invaluable.

During this event, you helped divert 1,280 pounds of recyclable material away from the landfill! In total, 28% of the materials consumed at this event were diverted away from the landfill. We are incredibly impressed with this number. What a feat!

As a part of our improvement process for future events, we invite you to complete this anonymous Google Form survey.

Are you interested in joining other sustainability initiatives on campus?

• Browse through the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) Teams, and reach out to those you are interested in attending.
• Sign up for a tour of the university’s Waste Transfer Station and learn about what happens after trash and recycling are thrown in the bin.
• Sign the Use the Bin pledge and commit to always using the recycling bin. We’re working towards our 10,000-signature goal!
• Sign up for the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment’s (iSEE) Illini Lights Out event coming up on Friday, March 24 from 5:30-7:00pm.
• Attend the 2023 iSEE Congress: Addressing Crises of Planetary Scale
• Join iSEE, Volunteer Illini Projects (VIP), Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS), and Facilities & Services on Thursday, April 18 for Earth Month Trash Pickup!

Thank you,

Daphne

Daphne Hulse (she/her)
Zero Waste Coordinator
Facilities & Services | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
+1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

On February 20, UIUC sustainability representatives met and discussed the following:

Attendance: Tony Mancuso, Jen Fraterrigo, Shawn Patterson, Julie Wurth, Steven Breitwieser, Travis Tate, Marty Kaufmann, Daphne Hulse

Agenda:

1. Basketball game

   1. Volunteers: Marty

      1. Volunteers checking in at the main west entrance?

      2. Place for volunteer coats and bags / giveaway t-shirts?

         1. Marty to check in with SFC

      3. Timing

         1. Move up first shift to 4:30 for bin placement (*note in reminder email*)

   2. Communications: Group feedback

      1. F&S crafted messaging for the upcoming game: feedback? [see word document]

   3. Media: iSEE

      1. Photography/videography: night of the event? (post-game pickup)

         1. iSEE interns

         2. Talk with F&S communications

   4. Post-game feedback: Marty

      1. Did you notice that this was a recycling-focused game? YES/NO

      2. Did you know State Farm Center recycles bottles and cans? YES/NO

      3. Did you recycle your cans and/or bottles at this game? YES/NO/I HAD NO RECYCLABLES

      4. Would you like to see more recycling initiatives at State Farm Center? YES/NO

      5. Did you know you can bring your own empty, clear plastic water bottle, up to 32 ounces to State Farm Center? YES/NO

      6. Post-season survey - could be incorporated here - Marty to investigate

   5. Post-game recycling estimates: Jen, Shawn

      1. It is possible to capture concession data from the single event [see excel sheet]

      2. Quantity of plastic bottles and aluminum cans sold at the event

         1. Estimate the weight of an empty can and bottle

         2. Of the total pounds of recyclables collected, estimate what percentage each material makes up. Percentage and weight, estimate % of bottles that were sold recycled, % of cans that were sold recycled

         3. Purpose:

            1. Part of the Coca-Cola contract (achieve 100% recycling of bottles and cans by 2030).

            2. Helpful to know how far we are until we cap out on possible recycling at these events (“we only captured and recycled roughly 50% of the bottles and cans sold that night”).

      3. Use relative proportions found in the bowl pick

      4. Don’t know the premium area information (missing data), though it is a small proportion

On January 25, UIUC sustainability representatives met with Coca-Cola and discussed the following:

Attendance: Jake Slager, Jen Fraterrigo, Thurman Etchison, Steve Breitwieser, Bryan Johnson, Sarah Carten, Shawn Patterson, Dominika Szal, Daphne Hulse

Agenda:

1. Zero Waste men’s basketball game Thursday, March 2 at 6pm (vs. Michigan).

   1. This is a Coca-Cola partnership game, so Jake will be there.

   2. Continue integrations with the DIA as we move forward, rather than pushing to be at the center of attention.

   3. F&S Zero Waste Team to plan and execute.

      1. Work out the logistics with State Farm Center recycling.

   4. iSEE will connect to volunteer base to pull 75-100 volunteers.

   5. Coca-Cola:

      1. Digital signage.

         1. Advertise across campus ahead of the event.

         2. Signage we can create that will be printed for use? Student volunteers said the Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste signage they were holding didn't make it clear to attendees what was going on.

      2. T-shirts: volunteer and giveaway.

2. Recycling Value Assessment audit details:

   1. Afternoon of February 16.

   2. Jake, Daphne, and Shawn will discuss in more detail.

3. Campaign updates:

   1. Don’t Waste Wednesdays.

4. Coca-Cola video from the 11/14 game.

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.

The iWG met on 12-12-22 and discussed the following agenda. The meeting minutes are attached. 

1. Brief introductions
2. LW004 Monarchs Need Milkweed
   1. Jen to transmit to F&S
3. Education008 Sustainability in Study Abroad
4. Engagement003 Sustainability Ambassador Program  
5. Engagement004 ADV498 Sustainability Campaign Partnership
6. Engagement005 DIA and Green Sports Alliance

Next meeting:

1. ZW009 Project4Less Expansion (Jamie to talk with Alma)
2. Res004 Student Support for Coordinated Rainwater Management Plan
3. Energy010 Establishment of a Clean Energy Plan Conference Committee
4. Energy011 Priority Technologies and Practices for a Clean Energy Plan

On November 28, 2022 during the weekly Internal Coca-Cola meeting the group reviewed the attached final report.

Important takeaways:

• 280 lbs of recycling was collected (cardboard, aluminum cans, plastic bottles), with an event diversion rate of 10.6%. With just incremental changes (student volunteers, recycling bin infrastructure in the upper concourse, and the implementation of blue recycling bags), we achieved this! An even greater diversion rate would not be difficult to achieve.
• Organizing student volunteers into a shift-based system would cut volunteer time per student, streamline the volunteer training process, and simplify volunteer roles. We could incentivize pre- and post-game volunteerism with tickets to the game.
• Stronger, more durable blue recycling bags are needed for future events if we are going to have student volunteers handling them; they leak easily otherwise.
• Dedicate a group of volunteers to just post-game collection from the stands. There is a huge opportunity to collect recyclables left in the cup holders.
• Feedback from volunteers and attendees was very positive:
  • In a post-event survey released to attendees, 300+ responses showed the following:
    • 51% of attendees were aware that this was a recycling-focused event.
    • 55% of attendees did recycle their bottles and/or cans.
    • 83% of attendees would support future recycling events at State Farm Center.
    • General comments indicated overall support for seeing the volunteers in action and support for the implementation of permanent recycling containers at the facility.

Next steps:

• Between F&S and DIA, determine how a recycling receptacle can be placed near the facility so blue recycling bags can be separated from the trash compactor located below the facility.
• Draft a proposal for permanent recycling bin locations and the associated cost.
• Look into Coca-Cola beverage sales (20oz and 12oz) and compare this to an estimate of how many were recycled. Coca-Cola and the University would like to see a 100% recycling rate for their products.
• Plan for the next event! Likely spring 2023 during the basketball season. Big Ten?

On November 17, 2022 staff writer Jacob Slabosz published the story 'Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste' event helps UI recycle.

Support Fighting Illini Basketball and fight waste!

DIA, iSEE, and F&S are working together to hold a zero-waste Illini men's basketball game Monday, Nov. 14, in honor of America Recycles Day on Nov. 15!

Fans can help the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign meet its zero-waste goals by using recycling bins for drink containers and other recyclables to keep them out of the landfill!

For more information --> https://fs.illinois.edu/serv…/waste-management-and-recycling

See the graphic on social media here: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram