The DU Center for Sustainability started the Zero Waste Hockey program in 2012. Defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, zero waste is reaching a minimum of 90 percent diversion rate, which is the rate of waste which is diverted from landfill to compost or recycling. The program has had incredible success since its start and is an integral effort to increase sustainability on the DU campus.
DU is not the first university to begin a zero waste program for sporting events. Many other universities have taken immense strides in increasing diversion rates at sports facilities. CU-Boulder currently runs one of the most successful programs, called “Ralphie’s Green Stampede”, which, between 2008-2010, collected more than 242,000 pounds of recyclables and compostables.
The newer DU program is the first zero waste program at the university hockey level and has a current goal of increasing diversion rates to 80 percent for the year, which is close to the diversion rate at CU-Boulder.
So far, the Zero Waste Hockey program is on track for higher diversion rates. Since its implementation, the program has increased diversion rates from 47 percent to last year’s 69 percent. The hockey game on Oct. 4 had a diversion rate of 76 percent.
“Now that all the products are aligned…it’s just making sure that the waste is put where it needs to be, because most of the material is compostable or recyclable,” said Kaela Martins, a junior environmental studies major from Centennial, Colorado, who is the current Zero Waste Manager.
One of the efforts Martins identified as a current focus is education. There is a constant need for education to ensure concessions workers are properly diverting waste and to ensure fans are properly disposing their scraps and packaging.
Currently, “goalies” (volunteers who work at hockey games) help fans properly dispose of their waste. Long-term, the program is working on improving signage, in collaboration with the athletics department, to eliminate the need for volunteers at every game.
By the time the permanent signage is in place, fans will ideally be educated enough in proper waste disposal that the program will continue its success without volunteers.
The Center for Sustainability also hopes to expand this program to other sporting events, most likely starting with a non-volunteer program for basketball games.
Although the program has had initial success, some concerns may still remain. Specifically, a concern with any type of waste is where the “diverted” waste goes post-collection. There are many recycling companies that collect single-stream recyclables to ship them to developing countries, only to be sent to a landfill in that country.
This is not, however, a concern with the Zero Waste Hockey program. After sorting, the waste is eventually collected by Alpine Waste, which has earned a reputation for sustainable waste practices. The business began as an alternative to Waste Management, building its own innovative recycling center and collection program.
Its program is the “most comprehensive program in Colorado” and has the “widest breadth of acceptable items”, according to its website. This program is clearly the most responsible option for DU waste and aligns with the goals of the Zero Waste Hockey program.
While this program needs significant growth to reach the progress of similar universities, the initial successes signal that it will become a strong program for DU sustainability. It is an especially remarkable program considering its ability to integrate sustainability education into all DU hockey fans – not just students.
“We are always looking for volunteers,” said Martins, discussing student involvement. “We’re also looking for people who want to be really involved in the program.”
Moving forward, volunteers are crucial to the success of this program. Anyone interested in volunteering for the program or want more information can go to the Zero Waste website: http://www.du.edu/sustainability/programs/zerowaste.html.
