University of Tennessee at Knoxville
IN-1: Innovation 1

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!

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.