Each home football game generates a lot of community building, fun — and waste. Though A-frames that hold clear bags for waste and blue bags for recycling empty bottles and cans are placed throughout tailgate lots, they do not reduce the amount that comes in or ensure recycling is done properly.

On average, 77 tons of waste is generated at each game, including trash and recycling both inside and outside the stadium. Of the 70,760 pounds, or 35.38 tons, of blue bags collected from the tailgate lots after the first four home games, 58.4% was successfully recycled. Ayo Oluwalana, Penn State’s waste reduction and recycling program manager, aims to increase that rate. “Getting it to 75% at the end of the season is what I’m hoping for,” he said.

The good news is that all fans can contribute to this goal, and that a group of students called Tailgate Ambassadors, supported by Penn State Sustainability, the Office of Physical Plant, and Pepsi, are working to make a difference. This partnership is incentivizing fans to learn about game-day recycling — and offering prizes to those who do.

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