GLAD Helps College Football Programs Tackle Waste

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The college football season brings with it more than gridiron glory and classic rivalries. The average football game produces 50 to 100 tons of waste(1). To help college and university football programs tackle this problem, The Glad Products Company has announced a collaboration with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), a non-profit committed to advancing sustainability in higher education. Together, they'll assist football programs nationwide in reducing waste this season, and for seasons to come.  

GLAD is providing a series of grants to AASHE college and university members that are designed to help put new sustainability programs into play, and is also supporting a higher education sustainability working group.  This group recently released the "Collegiate Football Sustainable Materials Management Toolkit," a guide for institutions of higher education across the country to implement or improve their game day recycling and sustainability. The collaboration also includes on-going awareness and education around waste reduction efforts in stadiums and tailgating areas.  

To help other teams and tailgaters reduce waste, GLAD is expanding its 27-year partnership with Keep America Beautiful (KAB) to support the organization's waste reduction and recycling efforts on more than 150 college campuses. Additionally, GLAD has unveiled a grant program for high school stadiums or youth sports leagues' efforts to reduce waste and aid diversion.

"We are excited to work with AASHE and continue our partnership with Keep America Beautiful to provide colleges and universities – and ultimately consumers – responsible waste management solutions," said Cheryl Hagedorn, brand manager for The Glad Products Company.  "We know that waste reduction isn't a problem that can be solved overnight, and we're committed to supporting new waste diversion efforts and educating consumers on small steps they can take against waste that make a lasting impact.  Joining forces with these two organizations is an opportunity for GLAD to help waste reduction efforts in a big way, and to provide opportunities for consumers to learn how to take small steps to waste less along the way."

Game Day at USC

To showcase what can be achieved by implementing strategic waste reduction efforts, GLAD will kick-off the AASHE collaboration by helping the University of Southern California (USC) and its fans implement waste reduction and diversion practices during pre-game tailgates, where an estimated 80,000 fans will be in attendance.  

GLAD will help USC tailgaters learn how to take steps to go "One Bag" – working toward the ultimate goal of sending just one bag of trash to landfill, with the rest being diverted to recycling and compost.  In addition, GLAD will take the official Trojan Fan Fest area outside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and select USC campus tailgates "One Bag" during the October 29 USC home football game against the Stanford Cardinal.  

Moreover, through a GLAD grant, USC will implement an EnviroRider™ -- an environmentally-conscious production rider that serves as a handbook presenting eco-friendly options and actions within the venue -- with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that will outline in-stadium sustainability practices to be implemented during games for the 2012-13 football season, allowing USC to take steps in controlling and reducing game day waste within the stadium, which is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles.  The implementation of the EnviroRider™ allows USC to begin the process of eventually taking USC home football games "One Bag."

"We realize the importance of reducing our waste and appreciate the fact that GLAD is affording us the opportunity to begin to make the necessary changes at USC home football games," said Pat Haden, USC Athletic Director.  "Through the One Bag event and the EnviroRider™ that we will execute with the Coliseum, we will be able to educate our fans and begin to plan for and control our waste impact – from stadium procurement to recycling and compost bins."  

The company has also joined forces with eco-conscious actress and mom Ali Larter to help inspire consumers to take small steps against waste.  Larter will co-host an October 29 GLAD tailgate at USC, providing tips and tools to help fans score big for the environment by wasting less at their tailgate parties.  To help consumers looking to take their tailgate or other event "One Bag," GLAD has developed a One Bag toolkit which is available at GladtoWasteLess.com that provides a how-to guide on planning and executing a waste-conscious event.  

Supporting the Home Team

GLAD is also committed to supporting youth sports programs by providing 10, $2,000 grants and counsel from sustainability experts to help youth stadiums or sports leagues' waste diversion efforts.  Entrants will be asked to share a brief description of their need and plan to take their high school stadium, community fields or youth sports league "One Bag." The grant entry period runs from October 18, 2011 through January 31, 2012. Grant submissions will be accepted at GladtoWasteLess.com.

Small Changes, Big Difference

GLAD is committed to taking small steps against waste, and supports the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) goal to divert 80 percent of solid waste from landfills by 2020. This fall GLAD introduced the new GLAD® Tall Kitchen trash bag that is stronger, yet uses less plastic. This innovation saves 6.5 million pounds of plastic per year – that's the equivalent of keeping 140 million extra trash bags out of landfills annually. This introduction joins GLAD's portfolio of products that help consumers waste less, including recycling and compost bags.

For more information visit GLAD.com.

The GLAD Products Company

The GLAD Products Company is wholly owned subsidiary of The Clorox Company. The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with 8,100 employees and fiscal year 2011 revenues of $5.2 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Green Works® naturally derived home care products, Pine-Sol® cleaners, Poett® home care products, Fresh Step® cat litter, Kingsford® charcoal, Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces, Brita® water-filtration products, Glad® bags, wraps and containers, and Burt's Bees® natural personal care products. Nearly 90 percent of Clorox Company brands hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories. The company's products are manufactured in more than two dozen countries and sold in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $84 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal year 2011 alone, the foundation awarded $4 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $13 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.

About AASHE

AASHE is helping to create a brighter future of opportunity for all by advancing sustainability in higher education. By creating a diverse community engaged in sharing ideas and promising practices, AASHE provides administrators, faculty, staff and students, as well as the business that serve them, with: thought leadership and essential knowledge resources; outstanding opportunities for professional development; and a unique framework for demonstrating the value and competitive edge created by sustainability initiatives.

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. With a network of over 1,200 affiliate and participating organizations, Keep America Beautiful forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community's environment. To learn more, visit www.kab.org.

(1) Paul, Steinbach. "Ohio State Joins the 'Zero Waste' Stadium Recycling Movement." Athletic Business. July 2011.

Web. 10 Aug. 2011. <http://athleticbusiness.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=3762>.

SOURCE Glad Products Company