The UK Wildcats were 4 and 3 at Kroger Field this fall, but in and around the stadium, recycling and waste reduction efforts were big winners. According to university officials, the campaign kept more than 59 tons of waste out of landfills. Ryan Lark is a zero-waste specialist at UK. He said each game, 16 students delivered information and resources to tailgaters.
“They're cardstock that have information about what is and is not recyclable, that you'd normally see at a tailgate. So bottles, cups, cans, pizza boxes, things like that. Additionally, on that cardstock is attached a black landfill bag and a clear recycling bag.”
Lark said inside the stadium, container signage was updated, custodial staff received new training and the UK Dining staff also made a difference.
“They actually reduced, on average, 135 pounds of food waste per game, compared to last season that they produced as waste. So it's very exciting milestones.”
Lark said UK also expanded what’s accepted for recycling, adding paper and plastic cups, aluminum foil and pans – things that tailgaters used to bring and throw in the garbage.
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