The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Athletics Sustainability leads efforts throughout Earth Month
04.25.2018 | Texas Athletics, Bleed Orange. Live Green.
The Longhorns aim to have zero waste by 2020.
Texas Athletics is committed to investing in the future through sustainability -- gameday and every day.
In honor of Earth Month, the Longhorns planned multiple events to promote sustainability throughout April. Earth Month activities included organizing on campus for UT's Office of Sustainability's Earth Month Tabling Fair; educating student-athletes in the Texas Athletic Nutrition Center (TANC); participating in the Keep Austin Beautiful Adopt-A-Street campaign; and the annual Zero Waste Weekend series at Texas Baseball and Softball.
TANC Trash Talk: April 2-6
To kick off Earth Month, Texas Athletics Sustainability and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted the first TANC Trash Talk event. Sustainability staff members were present throughout lunch and dinner during the week to help student-athletes and staff properly dispose of their waste. Achieving zero waste in the TANC is another big step in achieving zero waste by 2020 in conjunction with UT's campus-wide goal. Texas Athletics Sustainability and SAAC hope to continue educating student-athletes about sustainability through the hashtag #TANCTrashTalk regularly on Twitter (@TxSportsSustain) and Instagram (@bleedorangelivegreen).
Adopt-a-Street Clean Up: April 5
Texas Athletics participated in the Keep Austin Beautiful Adopt-A-Street campaign in early April. The campaign allows businesses, neighborhood organizations or individuals to adopt a stretch of roadway to help keep streets clean and litter free. On April 5, Texas Athletics staff and student-athletes came together to participate in the first street cleanup followed by a formal dedication ceremony. Texas Athletics is responsible for cleaning the half-mile section of Dean Keeton St. between San Jacinto Blvd. and Red River St. several times a year.
Zero Waste Weekend: April 20-22
Texas Athletics Sustainability -- sponsored by BASF, Coca-Cola, Fox 7 Austin and Republic Services -- hosted the Fourth Annual Zero Waste Weekend at UFCU Disch-Falk Field and Red & Charline McCombs Field on April 20-22. Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) was the presenting sponsor of the baseball game on Sunday, April 22 (Earth Day). TDS is also Texas Athletics' compost services provider at UFCU-Disch Falk Field and Red & Charline McCombs Field all season long, helping achieve zero waste goals. Zero waste means that 90 percent of all waste generated is diverted from landfills by composting or recycling.
"We're proud to partner with Texas Athletics to implement sustainability into their daily composting operations at their baseball and softball venues," said Stacy Schmitt, TDS director of marketing and communications. "Through education, we seek to inspire others to embrace our shared environmental responsibility."
In 2017, Sustainability was able to achieve zero waste the entire baseball season, making UFCU Disch-Falk Field the first Division I baseball stadium in the country to accomplish this goal. This year, Texas Athletics Sustainability was able to match its previous success. Over the course of the 2018 three-day weekend series at both facilities:
• Zero waste goal was reached;
• Volunteers dedicated more than 200 hours of time to help educate fans and sort waste properly; and,
• 4,225 pounds of waste was diverted out of the landfill.
"This special weekend was devised to bring awareness to sustainable practices focused on by The University of Texas and Texas Athletics," said Jeff Orth, associate athletics director for strategic relations. "The hard work and dedication of our sustainability staff proves that zero waste is an achievable goal."
The BASF Sustainability Squad volunteers were present at all softball and baseball games serving as the face of Texas Athletics Sustainability and assisting in educating fans on zero waste. Sporting their bright green shirts, the Sustainability Squad and Hook 'Em supported Texas Athletics' commitment to sustainability efforts. Texas Athletics Sustainability also organized informational tables at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, further educating fans about how long it takes their gameday trash to decompose in the landfill when it is not composted or recycled.
Sustainability on Tap
To wrap up Earth Month, Texas Athletics Sustainability will co-host 'Sustainability on Tap' with UT's Office of Sustainability on Wednesday, April 25. Sustainability on Tap is a networking event open for graduate students to give short presentations on their sustainability-related research.
Looking ahead
With the 2017-18 academic year coming to a close, Texas Athletics Sustainability is starting to plan zero waste efforts for the 2018 Texas Football season. If you are interested in helping Texas Athletics achieve zero waste goals, contact sustainability@athletics.utexas.edu or visit their webpage. You can also follow Texas Athletics Sustainability on Twitter (@TxSportsSustain) and Instagram (@bleedorangelivegreen).
