A dedicated team has spent the weeks after last month's Super Bowl
tabulating the amount of materials recycled during the big game in
Indianapolis – more than 144 tons, in fact.
The Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC), with financial support from the
Alcoa Foundation, helped organize an effort to recycle materials at the
Super Bowl and its numerous related events. The IRC worked closely with
the 2012 Super Bowl Environmental Programs Committee to ensure that
there were adequate recycling locations for fans to recycle their
beverage containers and other materials.
Carey Hamilton, the executive director of the IRC, said a total of
144.03 tons of recyclable materials were collected from Super
Bowl-related venues between Jan. 23 and Feb. 9, 2012, including Lucas
Oil Stadium, the NFL Experience/Indiana Convention Center, the Super
Bowl Village, the ESPN facility, Banker's Life Fieldhouse, and NFL
Compounds.
She said this total included about 25 tons of aluminum from beverage
containers.
Hamilton, who also served as the co-chair of the Indianapolis 2012 Super
Bowl Host Committee's Environmental Programs, said the results were a
victory for sustainability.
"The great success of the 2012 Super Bowl recycling effort is the result
of 2 1/2 years of planning, the outstanding dedication of countless
volunteers, staff and committee members, as well as support from a few
key donors, including the Alcoa Foundation," Hamilton said.
The Alcoa Foundation, she said, helped make recycling available at
several Super Bowl related venues outside of the Super Bowl Village.
Also, Alcoa Foundation funds were used to secure necessary supplies for
the Village recycling program.
The Alcoa Foundation's investment to the IRC was specifically focused on
increasing awareness about the infinite recyclability of aluminum
beverage cans, while also encouraging greater awareness about "away from
home" recycling.
Paula Davis, President of Alcoa Foundation, congratulated the IRC for
its work to increase recycling rates in the state of Indiana and for the
important role it played nationally with the Super Bowl's sustainability
efforts.
"In the U.S., we have an enormous opportunity to improve our
environmental footprint by recycling more of what we consume," she said.
"When recycled, a can of soda is back on the shelf in just 60 days.
We've set a strategic goal to increase U.S.