The first tailgate recycling event was conducted on September 23rd, 2023. We collected 1,000 pounds of recyclables using our blue bag distribution system, which is a wonderful number to build off of. Staff members, along with volunteers and interns, shared recycling information with tailgaters and encouraged them to recycle. Illini t-shirts were offered as rewards to those that segregated and recycled their waste effectively.

In the 2022 football season, 228,520 pounds of trash was picked up from college football (including high school playoffs). The Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste initiative began with the understanding that our efforts to engage a community-wide audience on the issue of waste would be best executed through high-visibility athletic venues. Events with tens of thousands of visitors produce a sizable quantity of waste. Athletic events are also unique in that not only are we hosting students, faculty, and staff from our own university, but also rivals from other schools and visitors from across the state and country.

We have made a commitment through our iCAP to set the tone that we recycle not only in our campus facilities, but also our events.

Holding events such as tailgate recycling also allows us to view tailgate waste management through a boots-on-the-ground approach: where is waste produced, how is it produced, what is produced, and how can we divert it towards recycling as opposed to the landfill? We can then take our lessons learned and determine how best to integrate the approach within existing operations. The goal is to provide the necessary infrastructure and resources in a convenient manner, so that the act of recycling becomes a natural habit to tailgaters.

Link to article, published on September 22, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Saturday will mark the very first time Illini Football will host a tailgate recycling event with the “Zero Waste Tailgate.”

The event will be part of the University of Illinois’ Don’t Waste initiative. There will be orange and blue-colored recycling boxes and a bright green dumpster to throw bottles and cans away. Helpers will be of assistance and can be identified by shirts reading, “Be Orange, Go Green.”

Green dumpsters will be placed on the east end of Lot 31 and South First Street. Boxes will be placed throughout Grange Grove and around the Illinois tent in Lot 31.

Link to article, released on September 24, 2023

As guests returned to Memorial Stadium this afternoon for u of i's home game against florida atlantic university, Facilities and Services Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign pushed for a cleaner environment with the help of fans.

It hosted Zero Waste Tailgate to encourage guests to toss bottles, cans, and other recyclable goodsby giving them blue bags and placing a large green dumpster near the stadium.

Zero Waste Coordinator, Daphne Hulse believes those items being provided makes it easier to reduce landfill.

Working at a large scale event like this with high visibility, is a great way not only to engage students, faculty and staff. But also community members that come here for these tailgate events." Hulse said. "Collectively we can work towards reducing that landfilled waste.

The next recycle event will be on November 11th at the stadium for u of i's home game against Indiana University.

From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 8:51 AM
To: Etchison, Thurman B <etchisn@illinois.edu>
Subject: Welcome Celebration recycling update

Hi Thurman,

Quick update on the recycling efforts for this coming Friday – good news first: we should have a good turnout of student volunteers for this event.

The complicated news: the 20 Coca-Cola bins did arrive just a few days ago, but they are unfortunately going to require some F&S modifications before they can be put to use. They’re extra sturdy (bolted down to the pallets) which is great for outdoor events, but they do not currently have any openings to put recycling in and dump it out (see picture below). We expect we’ll have to saw open the plastic top, and then they’ll be a useable bin. Coke finished designs on the wrap that will be placed over top of the bins (attached), so they have some messaging on them when we’re ready to put them to use.

As a quick solution, we have 24-26 bottles/cans recycling bins that we can line with blue bags and put to use (picture below). It unfortunately won’t have the great messaging that the Coke bins would have, but we will have the volunteers there to help manage. Not as sturdy as our new bins will be, but I expect better than the bins that were used last year that blew around. F&S will be bringing these over to Lot 31 on Friday when they’re bringing the tables and chairs, so our volunteers can line these with blue bags and place them nearby the trash bins.

Thank you,
Daphne

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

https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
 


Please consider the environment before printing an email. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

DIA and F&S have agreed to the following dates for tailgate recycling events:

• Saturday, September 23rd, versus Florida Atlantic
• Saturday, November 11th, versus Indiana University

On July 24, 2023 UIUC sustainability representatives met and discussed the following:

Attendance: Bryan Johnson, Pete Varney, Julie Wurth, Steve Breitwieser, Marty Kaufmann, Daphne Hulse

1. Football
   1. Tailgating
      1. Operation
         1. F&S staples recycling information + map to blue bags
         2. Parking supervisors will hand out the blue bags
         3. 2 dumpsters placed (Lot 31, Lot 32). Blue bags collected here
         4. Grange Grove/entrances to Memorial Stadium: Coca-Cola bins to collect loose bottles and cans
      2. Plan for one of the earlier games (Sep)
      3. Assess how first game went, revise for a later game (Oct/Nov)
      4. Post-season: assess, revise for next season
   2. Communication
      1. DIA gameday emails will include messaging about tailgate recycling
      2. Game script will call out hydration stations
      3. F&S – send campus-wide announcement (as was done for Dump and Run)?
      4. iSEE – newsletter?
   3. To do
      1. F&S scope out where the 2 dumpsters could be placed, confirm with DIA
      2. Determine placement of Coca-Cola bins: DIA recommends the 20 Coca-Cola bins are placed in Grange Grove/on the way into the stadium (portal 1 and 2)
      3. Staff recycling dumpsters to prevent them from becoming trash sites
         1. F&S may have a tent that can be used – check with Safety & Compliance
         2. iSEE does not have a tent
         3. F&S – print banners to hang on dumpsters?
            1. Green dumpster will be marked, ask Shawn Patterson
2. Welcome Week Lunch
   1. 7 student volunteers gathered + 2 F&S staff
3. Volunteer / giveaway t-shirts
   1. 200 green volunteer shirts – for Welcome Week, Tailgating, and other small events that may arise
   2. 300 orange giveaway shirts – for Tailgate Recycling
      1. Incentivize tailgaters to drop off their blue recycling bags
4. Coca-Cola bins
   1. Metal framing is expected to arrive Friday 8/11
   2. Wrap renderings are being finalized, discussing on Wednesday with Jake
5. iSEE – hydration station map live
   1. https://sustainability.illinois.edu/be-orange-go-green-cut-plastic-use-with-a-refillable-bottle/
   2. iSEE developing a video highlighting campus hydration stations for new student convocation

The Zero Waste iCAP Team submitted ZW010: Tailgate Recycling to the iWG on March 22, 2023. On April 19, 2023, the iWG transmitted the approved recommendation to the DIA and F&S leaders, Josh Whitman and Ehab Kamarah.