At many stadiums around the country, beverages at concession stands are served in non-recyclable cups. Consider making the switch to recyclable bottles or compostable cups. A recycling or composting program can save money while also improving your team’s environmental performance.

Consider asking your team’s current vendors and suppliers about compostable and recyclable options. You may also want to consider joining the EPA’s free WasteWise program, which provides members with several benefits, including a technical assistance team that will help your team conduct a waste audit and reduce waste.

Installing drinking water fountains can also help reduce the adverse impacts related to the production of plastic bottles, including global warming pollution, other hazardous air emissions, bio-diversity loss, water pollution and solid waste impacts.

In 2005, the McAfee Stadium in the Oakland Coliseum Complex became the first stadium to offer drinks in compostable bioplastic cups. This move keeps hundreds of thousands of cups from going to landfills and prevents the purchase of over three tons of petroleum-based plastic each year. Case Study

Dear _______,

The Detroit Tigers have initiated an effort to improve our environmental performance in all aspects of our operations. We would like to meet with you to discuss these objectives in more detail. We would also like to discuss ways to cost-effectively switch to more environmentally responsible products within the next few years.

Our choice of cups and/or bottles for serving drinks can have a significant effect on the environment. Many cups are made from plastic whose production process involves several highly toxic compounds. In addition, many disposable cups are not designed with recycling and disposal in mind.

We would like to reduce as much as possible the harmful effects associated with our operations, and we would like to speak with you to ensure that the products we are purchasing do not contribute to these problems.

Please call me as soon as you can so that we can set a time for a meeting to pursue this discussion.

Very Truly Yours,

The production and disposal of single-use plastic cups contributes to a number of environmental impacts. Most plastic is produced from petroleum products, which increases our consumption of fossil fuels and whose drilling and exploration can contribute to oil spills and habitat destruction. By purchasing recyclable cups or bottles, and by recycling these products at the end of their use, your team can help reduce these impacts.

Eco-products
Biodegradable products from Worldwise
EPA – Strategies for Record Setting Waste Reduction
American Recycling Markets, Inc – Recycled Products Guide
BioCorp