Sustainable Sports

We have a vision for a Vanderbilt Athletic Program that is strong not only on the field, but also in its embrace of sustainability initiatives. The reach of athletics is far and wide so it can serve as a powerful platform to inform and ignite interest in sustainable issues.

Where We Are

Vanderbilt Athletics is making an effort to be more sustainable by partnering with Waste Management on various sustainable initiatives at athletic events. They are offering tips on how to be sustainable on the Jumbotron, as well as during in-game announcements. Additionally, there are recycling bins throughout all the athletic venues and SPEAR collects recyclables outside the gates of all home football games. The Vanderbilt Basketball team also held a competition during the season for the "Greenest Group on Campus," which was won this year by SPEAR.

Where We Are Going

Vanderbilt should strive to make our athletic facilities zero waste. There should be no garbage bins at games but rather there should be compost and recycling containers as well as non-compost. We should initiate recycling drives at athletic events particularly tailgates; we should also have student and athletics volunteers walk around with bags to hand out to tailgaters so everyone can collect their own recyclables. Additionally, after sporting events people should walk the stadium to collect cans and bottles so they don't just get thrown in the trash. We also need to wean athletic teams away from bottled water and Gatorade and towards filtered water and powder-based Gatorade. Lastly, we need to be smarter about leaving facility lights on. The football jumbotron never shuts off and tennis stadium lights automatically go on each night even if nobody is playing. These are enormous wastes of energy that can be rectified simply by being more conscious of when the lights turn on and off and if they are being used. Finally, our athletics program will serve as an active voice in the Nashville community on the importance of sustainability to our communal future.

Success Stories

University of Colorado

The University of Colorado has instituted the "Ralphie's Green Stampede" which has made their stadium the first zero-waste facility in the US, and have collected 121 tons of recycling since the program began in 2008. They have raised over $100,000 from selling their recyclables. Additionally, they have developed an energy conservation program for all athletic facilities that has cut energy consumption across campus. The program has also attracted sponsors that previously did not support the athletic program, but felt the athletic program's new mission aligned with that of their company, including Horizon Organic, one of the leading distributors of organic milk in the US. This has brought new revenue into the program in addition to the cost cutting provided by their initiatives.

University of Florida

One of our SEC brethren, the University of Florida, has been leading the conference in terms of green initiatives. Florida was the first athletic program in the country to be carbon neutral. At their games, they have recycling bins throughout the stadium and all cans, bottles and souvenir cups sold at games are recyclable. This is to help make UF Athletics zero-waste by 2015. They also have tailgater green teams who distribute bags for recyclables in high traffic tailgating areas and then sort the bags at the stadium. Additionally, the athletic department sponsors "Green Games" throughout the year where the games are green-themed and athletics representatives speak about their various initiatives.

How To Get Involved

Volunteer at football games with SPEAR.

Start your own recycling drives at tailgates with your friends.

If you work with an athletic team, encourage them to stop using bottled products.

Inform the administration about the energy waste of stadium lights remaining on when not in use.

Where

Vanderbilt Athletic Facilities