Rush2Recycle, an NFL-led initiative to recover more than 90 per cent of waste at U.S Bank Stadium during Super Bowl LII, is aiming to leave a positive green legacy far beyond next month’s championship game.
The NFL American football league, in partnership with PepsiCo, Aramark, U.S. Bank Stadium and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, aims to recycle more than 40 tons of stadium waste when the New England Patriots face the Philadelphia Eagles on February 4.
Minneapolis, the Super Bowl host city, hopes to create a playbook for other leagues, teams, site operators and fans to intercept waste in their communities.
Recycling and composting will be maximised on the day of the big game after months of preparation to eradicate waste materials from U.S. Bank Stadium.
“The NFL is a responsible steward of the environment in all areas of our business,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell “For 25 years, the NFL has strived to reduce the environmental impact of its events and leave a positive green legacy in host communities.
“Through this project, the league and its partners hope to set a new standard of environmental sustainability at the Super Bowl.”
Every person, from chefs to fans, will be working to recycle bottles and cans, composting organic materials like food waste and service ware, and repurposing items like discarded handbags, signage and construction materials through local community organisations.
Stadium partners introduced a tri-bin waste collection system, invested in a dedicated organics compactor and implemented a detailed post-game waste sort to insure each waste stream is contaminant-free.
The Rush2Recycle team will also be launching social media campaigns, providing tips to recycle and sharing its recycling end zone dance, the Rush2Recycle Shuffle.
“At PepsiCo, we know that developing more sustainable packaging and reusing and recycling materials are key to sustaining our success in the long-term, both as a company and as a society,” said PepsiCo chairman and chief executive Indra Nooyi.
“And we could not be more thrilled to join this groundbreaking effort. There’s no grander stage in all of American sports than the Super Bowl, and we look forward to working with our partners at the NFL, Aramark, and U.S. Bank Stadium to shine a spotlight on the critical importance of recycling and waste reduction.”
Since June 2017, U.S. Bank Stadium partners have increased the stadium’s waste diversion rate by roughly 55 per cent, reaching a high of 83 per cent by January 2018.
Image: Pepsico
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