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Projects Updates for place: Memorial Stadium

  1. Fall 2023: Tailgate Recycling initial meeting

    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.
  2. Zero Waste iCAP Meeting 12/8/2022

    On December 8th, the Zero Waste iCAP team met to discuss a new approach to creating recommendations for next semester. During the meeting, the team created subcommittees based on aspects of the key priorities document and provided feedback on an environmental engineering sustainability project. 

    Meeting minutes are attached.

  3. Zero Waste iCAP Meeting 11/7/2022

    On November 7th, the Zero Waste iCAP team met to discuss DIA sustainability initiatives with Tim Knox and made edits on the Project 4 Less expansion recommendation to be submitted in the coming month(s). 

    Meeting minutes are attached.

  4. Varsity Room Sustainability Initiatives

    Team Clerk Claire Keating met with Zero Waste Team Clerk Nikki Palella and Justin Holding, a member of the engagement team.

    The meeting content included brainstorming zero-waste food containers for athletes who participate in meals provided by DIA and Hendrick House.

    Meeting also covered updates on Green Sports Alliance recommendation and future contacts.

     

  5. 120 original "Don't Waste It" bins provided for convocation, quad day, welcome week

    From: Jake Slager <jakeslager@coca-cola.com>
    Sent: Monday, October 3, 2022 3:22 PM
    To: Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Illinois Sustainability Campaign Messaging

     

    Hey Meredith,

     

    Hope you had a great weekend too!

     

    I’m working on getting estimates for a bit sturdier bins, but with the attached graphics if you all could approve for sure or provide any other feedback.

     

    We did deliver 120 total (60 recycling, 60 trash) for convocation/quad day/welcome week, but I’m not sure who all received them and if any went to athletics. That’s part of what we need to finalize too, is how many you want replaced (or all 120), and then how to divvy them up between departments/areas of campus that need them too. My plan is to replace all that you need, and determine if we need more permanent bins anywhere such as with Athletics particularly.

     

    I was hoping to give Daphne a call this week quick to align on calendars for just the smaller group to meet. I know we said could keep the weekly at 330CST on Wednesdays, but I’d like to move it up if at all possible, so let me know if your all schedules could accommodate that or not please or we can chat on that quick too.

     

    Agenda this week can be this topic, as well as the YAH agency discovery questions/answers, and perhaps discuss the Circular Solutions audit that I’m trying to get as many details as possible for you all on too by Wednesday. Let me know anything else you want to review as ewll.

     

    Talk soon, thanks!

     

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    Classified - Confidential

    From: Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Monday, October 3, 2022 12:14 PM
    To: Jake Slager <jakeslager@coca-cola.com>
    Cc: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Illinois Sustainability Campaign Messaging

     

    Hi Jake,

     

    Hope you had a great weekend. Quick question – I seem to remember that Athletics received their own shipment of the recycling/trash sets. On campus, we received 60 (30 for housing, 30 for F&S) and are wondering how many DIA received.

     

    We can talk about this on Wednesday, but could you give us an idea of how the “rebranding” process will work? Will all of the bins be replaced, or just a portion, with the new “Don’t Waste” messaging?

     

    Thanks!
    Meredith

     

    --------------------------------------------
    “There are a lot of dreamers – dreaming is very important, but it’s really the dreamer and the doer. You’ve got to be the doer.” –Will Steger  

    MEREDITH MOORE
    Sustainability Programs Manager 

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)
    1101 W Peabody Drive (Suite 382), Urbana, IL, 61801
    217.333.0119 | mkm0078@illinois.edu
    www.sustainability.illinois.edu
     
    signature_2127019860

    Please consider the environment before printing out 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. 

  6. Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference

    The 2021 biennial Champaign County Stormwater Partnership Green Infrastructure and Erosion Control Conference took place on October 20th.

    The following email provides some context and resources with more information about the event.

    The program and the media post for the conference are attached below.

    ------------------------------

    From: Liggett, Betsy Jo 
    Sent: Friday, September 03, 2021 9:59 AM
    To: Stillwell, Brett
    Cc: White, Morgan; Wilcoxen, David B; Ruhter, Colleen; Liggett, Betsy Jo
    Subject: Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference

     

    Good morning Brett!

    I wanted to share an upcoming conference opportunity with you and others in DIA. F&S Safety and Compliance is a member of the Champaign County Stormwater Partnership to help meet goals for our campus stormwater municipality permit. One of the permit Public Education and Outreach goals is to host a biennial stormwater conference. We have several speakers this year one of which is a member from Green Sports Alliance (GSA) who will speak about the GSA program and provide examples of what other organizations/universities have done to meet the program missions.  Green Sports Alliance

     

    Please share with others and join us October 20, 2021 for the free biennial Champaign County Stormwater Partnership Green Infrastructure and Erosion Control Conference. This year the conference will be virtual instead of at the iHotel and Conference Center, however Professional Development Hours are still available. Attendance is limited and you can register at the following link Champaign County Stormwater Conference - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY STORMWATER PARTNERSHIP (ccstormwater.org)

     

    Thank you!

    Betsy

  7. Proposal for membership in the Green Sports Alliance

    Gopal Pareek presented a proposal for DIA to join the Green Sports Alliance to Brett Stillwell, with the attached files.  Brett indicated willingness to join and committed to completing the application for a standard membership ($500).

    https://greensportsalliance.org/about/

  8. Update from Gopal Pareek

    Gopal met with Professor Cheryl L. Cole about her work with the Green Sports Alliance.  She is also a teacher in RST.  He also is working on getting meetings with the SWATeams, to consider how DIA can help with the iCAP objectives. 

    Today, Gopal and Morgan White reviewed the data from the Energy Billing System for each of the DIA facilities, and discussed next steps for finalizing the energy and water reports, and coordinating them into the Building-Level Energy Report Card format.

    We also reviewed the template needs for the report card with Dee Dee Caneva at F&S, to make changes that would simplify the user's experience with the template.

  9. Update on progress

    Gopal Pareek and Morgan White met to review progress on the DIA CAP efforts.  Gopal received information from the Green Sports Alliance, including a proposal for UIUC to join the alliance.  He also pulled the energy, water, and sanitary sewer data for each of the DIA buildings, to review with Brett Stillwell.  The square footage for each facility is needed, as well as the natural gas use, when applicable.

    For our next meeting, Gopal will finalize the excel file data for the DIA buildings.  Morgan will put him in contact with the SWATeam clerks to talk about the DIA potential for helping with the iCAP objectives.

  10. Update on progress

    Gopal and Morgan reviewed the Big Ten schools in the Green Sports Alliance.  Gopal will find associated scores for the schools that are in that program.  He pulled data for the DIA buildings from the Energy Billing System, and put them into the consolidated format.  He also began reviewing the Green Sports Alliance programs.  During the next month, Gopal will contact the SWATeams to brainstorm potential ways DIA can help acheive the iCAP objectives for their topics.  He will also start a draft word document for the DIA CAP and list recommended actions for each chapter of the iCAP.

  11. Update from Bart Bartels

    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

  12. press release about zero waste game day

     

     

       

                                                                NEWS

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     Oct. 1, 2014

    For more information contact

    Jim Dexter, Communications Coordinator (217) 244-3290

     

    ILLINI HOMECOMING GAME KICKS OFF MUCH MORE THAN

    A GREAT DAY OF FOOTBALL

     

    Illinois Moves to a More Sustainable Future at Its First Gameday Recycling Challenge 

     

    CHAMPAIGN, IL – This year’s University of Illinois Homecoming game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers is about more than Orange and Blue – it is also about Green.  For the first time, various campus and community partners are working together to raise awareness and have a positive lasting impact at the inaugural Zero-Waste Football Game.  Hundreds of volunteers from all over the Urbana-Champaign community will assist the thousands of spectators in reducing waste – from the money spent sending materials to landfill to the volume of materials that impact our water, air, and soil.

    “As our students, staff, faculty, and alumni gather at Homecoming, this game is a fantastic opportunity to get everyone involved in making a difference.  A recycling competition is a fun way for all to participate and in the end, know what they have accomplished.”” said Bart Bartels, sustainability outreach specialist for the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), a division of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who is coordinating this effort. “This is our first step to move Illinois to the top of the recycling competition’s leaderboard.”

    As our team takes the field and faces a fierce opponent, those involved in the Zero-Waste event face stiff competition from our Big 10 rivals, as this even is part of a National Competition divided up by conference and division.  Last year, Ohio State won the Big Ten challenge by piling up only 10 points (diverting 90 percent of their waste for recycling or composing).  Our Homecoming opponents, the Gophers, scored a 17 (an 83 percent diversion rate).  “While we always want to beat our Big Ten opponents, this year also serves as a baseline.  We will assess where we are and how to improve going forward,” Bartels said.

    Leading this cooperative initiative are ISTC, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, Facilities & Services, and the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment.  They hope to encourage more sustainable recycling practices across the community.  Anyone who is interested in getting involved is welcome to join in the efforts.  To volunteer for the event, sign up at: http://bit.ly/1vN44SK. We are looking forward to having a large student involvement in order to make this event a success.

    Nationwide, the Game Day Recycling Challenge is a partnership of the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), RecycleMania and Keep America Beautiful (KAB), and is supported by EPA’s WasteWise program.

    Also do your part as a fan by liking the Fighting Illini Gameday Recycling Challenge Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/events/518311078270593/

    For more information, contact Bart Bartels at bbartel@illinois.edu.

     

    10114                                                                                -30-

     
     

     

  13. August 2014 SSLC Meeting notes

    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
    Attached Files: 

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