Collegiate Times

The football tailgating culture at Virginia Tech can generate fun times and many empty cans and plastic bottles.

The office of sustainability, Tech’s chapter of the YMCA, the SGA and the Environmental Coalition at Virginia Tech teamed up Saturday, Sept. 18, to promote recycling at game day tailgating for the second year in a row.

The event attracted more than 100 volunteers who helped educate tailgaters about recycling.

Volunteers in the event spent time before the game educating tailgaters about what is and what is not recyclable.

Volunteers distributed blue recycling bags to tailgaters before the game and picked them up after kickoff.

“Some tailgaters have just been keeping recycling in their cars,” said Lauren Miller, SGA secretary of sustainability. “We want to engage with tailgaters and get them excited about recycling.”

Miller said the movement is a part of the efforts to get Tech to zero waste.

The project began in response to the Climate Action Commitment resolution, which was passed by the Tech Board of Visitors in June 2009.

The resolution challenges the university to accomplish certain steps towards a more sustainable campus.

Miller said the group would continue to pass out recycling bags at remaining home games this year as well as in years to come.

“Everything went smoothly this Saturday,” said Emily Schaefer, SGA assistant secretary of sustainability.

“Our expectations were exceeded and we expect continual growth.”

The program coordinators want to eventually add more spots for recycling in Lane Stadium and increase awareness and participation in recycling in other areas on campus.

“There’s no excuse not to recycle,” Schaefer said. “Hopefully it will get bigger every game.”

A version of this article appeared in the Sep 21 issue of the Collegiate Times.