The Kent State University Office of Sustainability will participate in the Game Day Challenge stadium waste reduction and recycling competition during the Sept. 30 football game against the University at Buffalo at 3:30 p.m. at Dix Stadium.
The national competition between other colleges and universities is an initiative to promote waste reduction and recycling at home football and basketball games. Schools track the waste and recycling that day and report it to the national Game Day Challenge officials.
“Game Day Challenge is a great opportunity to raise awareness and measure up,” says Melanie Knowles, Kent State’s manager for sustainability. “Our Kent State team, from fans to athletics, concessions and the grounds crew have been supportive. It allows us to see how we are doing and look at what opportunities we can find to improve over last year.”
Kent State has participated for five years, and last year, for the fourth consecutive year, the amount of recycling per person increased at the football game against Ohio University. Last year, the diversion rate, which is the percentage recycled out of trash and recycling waste streams, was 61 percent. Kent State placed 16 out of 47 participating colleges and universities. Of the Mid-Atlantic Conference universities, Kent State ranked second in recycling per capita.
“We look forward to the enthusiasm student volunteers bring while educating fans on what can be recycled during Game Day Challenge,” says Leah Graham, Kent State’s outreach recycling coordinator. "We hope to see an increase in our recycling rate and to continue to improve on our previous Game Day Challenge standings.”
For more information or to volunteer at Game Day Challenge, visit www.kent.edu/sustainability/game-day-challenge.