EPA, NFL team up for Pro Bowl recycling plan

(02/09/06) HONOLULU - The E.P.A., the Countrywide Football League and 5 other partners will collect and recycle bottles and cans in the parking lot of Aloha Stadium during Pro Bowl 2006 on Feb. 12, to encourage recycling at sporting events.

The EPA, Countrywide Football League, Office of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Boys and Girls Clubs of Hawaii, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu Recovery, and Ridgeway International will participate in the effort. The E.P.A. will use the Pro Bowl recycling plan as part of its "Recycling On The Go" model for promoting bottle and can recycling at sports facilities and events nationwide.

"This is an exciting effort to take advantage of events like concerts and sporting events to encourage awareness about recycling," said Jeff Scott, division director for the E.P.A. Pacific Southwest Region's Waste Division. "With more Americans recycling at home, it is also important that we remember to recycle wherever we go."

Recycling bags labeled, "Be a Pro, Recycle Before You Go" will be distributed to vehicles that have pulled into parking spaces and during pre-game tailgating activities. Patrons will be instructed to leave bags of "HI-5" labeled containers in their parking spaces behind their vehicles.

The bag of recyclable containers will be collected and taken to a local "HI-5" redemption facility, with proceeds donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hawaii.

The E.P.A. will track the total number of bottles and cans collected, number of cars receiving bags and the number of bags collected. The number of pounds generated, and the disposal costs saved by the stadium, will also be tracked.

"While more Americans are recycling at home, conserving our resources shouldn't stop at the front door," said E.P.A. Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By protecting the environment through reducing, reusing, and recycling, E.P.A. and our partners are helping transform the throw-away culture into a recycling culture - even while on the go."

Aloha Stadium and Ridgeway International will provide game day support. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hawaii will provide volunteers to collect recyclables. Honolulu Recovery has donated use of a recycling collection container and hauling services. Industry partners, the Aluminum Association, and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers are providing the collection bags.

The E.P.A. is working toward a goal of a 35 percent recycling rate nationwide. Recycling saves energy, conserves resources, reduces the need for new landfills and incinerators, and stimulates the development of green technologies.

Although E.P.A. does not endorse specific clubs, businesses, or organizations, the Agency is willing to cooperate with other groups on similar recycling collections.

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