Every Saturday an average of 45,000 people gather at stadiums across the country to watch their favorite college football team. In some places, like Columbus, OH, the number can be over 100,000. This can generate an extremely large amount of waste and garbage. Ohio State recycling plan Zero Waste is designed to improve sustainability and reduce, if not eliminate, all stadium waste.

Recycling Reduces Landfill Dumping

Recycling waste prevents materials from adding to local landfills. This pollution poses a big threat to the local ecosystem. Zero Waste diverts 90% or more gameday garbage and waste from landfills into recycling bins and compost piles. This goal was achieved three times last season, with the highest being 98%. The plan is simple: there are no garbage cans. Containers are labeled “recycling” or “compost.” When in doubt, throw garbage into the “recycling” containers to be sorted later.

To further achieve these goals, OSU plans to increase education about the program throughout campus and around Ohio Stadium. In addition, green options are being sought from the food vendor to provide food service options more compliant with recycling and composting. So the next Bucks game you go to, do your part and dispose of your waste properly!

Recycling efforts have yielded a 73% reduction of trash since the program began in 2010.

Zero Waste is another step OSU has taken to reduce its environmental footprint. Recycling at tailgating sites and the stadium have been going strong since 2007. The university has been providing recycling bags and sorting through containers to separate trash and recyclables.

Frog Hauling is a local Columbus, OH dumpster rental company. As a green business, we are proud of the Zero Waste initiative and the efforts of Ohio State to eliminate waste. We make every effort to recycle or reuse materials placed into our dumpsters.