Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.54
Liaison Jay Price
Submission Date March 2, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Tennessee at Knoxville
IN-1: Innovation 1

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Preston Jacobsen
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
UT Zero Waste Game Days

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome :

The Game Day Challenge is a friendly competition for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction at their football games. During the challenge, colleges and universities implement waste reduction programs during home football games. Schools track and report waste reductions and disposal—data that is used to rank the schools.

UT Zero Waste is working in partnership with UT Athletics, Aramark, Office of Sustainability, and Good Sports Always Recycle to eliminate at least 90% of waste created during athletic events through recycling and composting across Big Orange Country.

Tennessee football in its current state creates over 27 tons of waste per game, nearly all of which is recyclable or compostable. That means that each football season generates over 189 tons of waste that contributes to water and air pollution and increases already overwhelmed landfill levels. The University of Tennessee Volunteers want to do better!


A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):

In the 2014 season UTK placed 2nd in the nation in the Game Day Challenge in the Total Recycling category with 47,560 lbs recycled/composted/donated from the last game. UTK also placed 11th (of 92) in the Diversion Rate category with a 65.44% diversion rate at the last game. Overall, in the 2014 season UT Recycling and partners diverted just under 50% of waste from the landfill from within the stadium and the tailgating areas on campus and recycled/composted 266,610 lbs,along with donating 3,810 lbs of food to local soup kitchens.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of 5):
Yes or No
Curriculum No
Research No
Campus Engagement Yes
Public Engagement Yes
Air & Climate No
Buildings No
Dining Services No
Energy No
Grounds No
Purchasing No
Transportation No
Waste Yes
Water No
Coordination, Planning & Governance No
Diversity & Affordability No
Health, Wellbeing & Work No
Investment No

Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
Athletics

The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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