Tailgaters at Philadelphia Eagles home games recycled over 100,000 pounds of recyclable bottles, cans, plastic, and cardboard at Philadelphia Sports Complex parking lots over the past two seasons by taking part in the Recycle-A-Lot Tailgate Recycling Program begun by the PA Resources Council.  

The project was funded by the Alcoa Foundation and run in partnership with parking lot concessionaire Central Parking and lot maintenance contractor Lot Squad LLC.

Prior to the final home game on December 23rd, PRC will be joined City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) and other officials to celebrate the end of the 2nd successful season of the “Recycle A Lot” program and discuss how the program supports the Philadelphia’s efforts to become the “Greenest City in America.”  

The event will be at the entrance to parking lots D & E on the west side of 11th Street across from Lincoln Financial Field.

PRC Eastern Regional Director Mario Cimino notes that “It’s important to realize that the several thousand pounds that we’ve collected  on average in each of the past two Eagles seasons were all headed to landfills prior to the introduction of the Recycle-A-Lot Program.  That’s a great result any way you stack it up.  

“Despite the frustrations on the field, the fans could not have been more enthusiastic about the recycling program and these numbers demonstrate that.  We’re proud that along with city initiatives including curbside single-stream recycling, this program is helping to make Philadelphia the greenest city in America.”

Offering single-stream recycling with glass, metal, plastic, and paper all going in the same green bags, the program is designed to be simple enough that nearly all fans will participate, and that is what we have seen for the past two seasons.  Parking attendants distribute green recycling bags to fans as they enter designated parking lots.

The roving Recycle-A-Lot outreach teams encourage fans to place all their recyclable items during their pre-game parties and distribute extra free recycling bags.  The fans are asked to leave the green recycling bags in front of their vehicles, and the Lot Squad maintenance staff collects them during the game.  

The program is a great fit with the overall community spirit at Eagles tailgates.  At all of the games the Recycle-A-Lot teams have encountered very enthusiastic fans, eager to recycle.

“The response from the fans so far has been even greater than we expected. The Eagles tailgates are like a community, and most fans are really happy to do anything to keep the lots clean and fun,” according to PRC Executive Director Bob Jondreau.

The Recycle-A-Lot program also contributes significantly toward meeting the city’s Philadelphia Greenworks sustainability goals. Target 7 of that plan specifically mentions the need to reduce tonnage of solid waste by recycling with a goal to divert 70 percent of the solid waste currently entering the waste stream.  

According to PRC Recycle-A-Lot Project Manager Jayne Young, “Tailgate recycling is what most would call a “no brainer” towards the realization of the city’s waste reduction goal. The Recycle–A-Lot program not only encourages recycling at this tailgating venue, but PRC’s use of trained environmental outreach staff successfully maximizes the program’s impact by engaging the fans, who are overwhelmingly happy to participate.”

“Recycle A Lot” is operated by PRC with support from the Alcoa Foundation, in partnership with Central Parking System and Lot Squad LLC. Sponsorships for the Recycle-A-Lot program for upcoming seasons at the Philadelphia Sports Complex and other venues are available.

For more information about recycling or to become a sponsor, visit the PA Resources Council or call 610-353-1555.

12/24/2012