Sustainability is a staple in the design and construction community. For example the American Institute of Architects has become a change agent through The 2030 Commitment which is described as “a national framework with simple metrics and a standardized reporting format to help firms evaluate the impact design decisions have on an individual project’s energy performance.” The basic idea is for design firms to proactively reduce the carbon footprint of their designs. An effort that is well worthwhile.
The challenge becomes balancing cost effectiveness with moral obligation. One could argue that there is no argument, but that would be ignoring reality. Budgets are incredibly tight and everyone is looking to squeeze as much into their facilities as possible. This is true within both college athletic departments and professional sports organizations. For the time being on campus, performance labs and training rooms go much further in recruiting than solar panels and waterless toilets which often means a desired sustainable feature is sometimes left out. In response to The 2030 Commitment this is and will continue to change over time.
However, today there are sustainable solutions being utilized at college sports facilities that are cost effective and in some cases even go a step further by offering revenue potential. A great example of this is the Zero Waste Program in Ohio Stadium at The Ohio State University (OSU). The term “zero waste” means that 90% or more of the materials generated from a given event are diverted from going to a landfill. Typically, the diversion is accomplished through recycling or composting. In 2011, Ohio Stadium became the largest stadium in the country to attempt to achieve zero waste and in 2012 they were able to meet that goal.
87.2% of the waste generated at Ohio Stadium in 2012 was diverted to either a compost or recycling center and that included a season high 98.2% at their game against the University of Illinois. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average collegiate football game produces of 50 to 100 tons of trash including tailgaters with 80% to 90% of that waste is going into landfills. The impact of a diversion program is astonishing.
After speaking with OSU administrators, Corey Hawkey, Sustainability Coordinator and Don Patko, Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities Management it became clear that there are key factors that have helped make the program a success. The financial investment was minimal and the operating costs have remained nearly the same. Ohio State utilized a $50,000 grant to kick start the program. The bulk of those funds went to signage and branding within the stadium. The University also established unique partnerships. OSU’s compost partner, Price Farms Organics, obviously plays a pivotal role in the zero waste program, but companies such as food vendor Sodexo, the Ohio State Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) have been equally important. It’s vital for Sodexo to utilize recyclable or compostable materials, the ROTC program assists with the cleaning up the seating bowl post game and the ODRC sorts the recyclables.
Additionally, there is a focus on educating. OSU employs high school students to man the zero waste stations. This ensures materials are discarded properly, but it also shows the importance of this initiative to the younger generations. Finally, the program increases the revenue potential for The Ohio State Athletic Department. The program gives OSU a new property to sell and it’s a unique offering. The zero waste process also creates a potentially sellable product – compost. Some of the compost does go into the landscaping at Ohio Stadium and on campus, but there is plenty remaining that could be branded and sold to the public. Either way, a low initial investment, equal operating costs, eliminating waste, and generating revenue and interest has been a relatively simple yet successful formula for OSU.
(Photo courtesy of Ohio State Athletics)
Drew Berst is the National Sports Business Development Leader for DLR Group, an integrated design firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design from offices coast-to-coast and in China. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. To learn more go to www.dlrgroup.com.