While the Bears and Packers aren't playing in this year’s Super Bowl, many people in the area will be watching. What you won’t see on the field or hear in the midst of the passing yard stats, is the many ways the Super Bowl has gone green!
Yes, over the past eighteen years, this enormous event has steadily implemented an increasing variety of environmental practices to reduce waste and save energy. Last year the National Football League purchased alternative energy to offset the amount of energy used at the stadium, the hotels and media center over the weekend.
Beyond the energy, cheering fans are given the option to recycle and all those beer and brat selling vendors are able to recycle behind the scenes. An estimated 20-30% of the waste generated was recycled. In addition, most of the food waste is composted and usable unsold food, along with canned unprepared food, is donated to a local Food Bank.
Over the past 15 years, the Super Bowl has been donating materials for reuse. Items such as fabric decorations and office equipment are given to Goodwill or other charitable resale organizations.
If it is possible to offer recycling to 68,000 – 103,000 cheering fans successfully, how much easier is it for us to implement recycling in our work places, parks and places of worship. For nearly 20 years, the NFL has taken their environmental impact over one weekend seriously. This should inspire all of us to do more everyday.
If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party on Feb. 5, this is your chance to get prepared. Consider finger foods with cloth napkins, a few recycling boxes beside the garbage container, and compostable paper plates if you don’t have enough everyday china. For some ideas on more things you could be doing, visit www.willcountygreen.com and enjoy the game!
