An Easy Guide to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint this Super Bowl Sunday
OAKLAND, Calif. — Jan. 29, 2013 — Last year, more than 111 million watched the New York Giants best the New England Patriots for a second time in Super Bowl XLVI (46). That also meant millions of Super Bowl parties around the world, and an increase in waste and recyclables generated.
“A Super Bowl party is a great opportunity to shape some green habits,” said Rebecca Jewell, Recycling Programs Manager at Waste Management’s Davis Street Material Resource Recovery Complex. “There can be a cost-savings to it, too.”
As you and your friends and family prepare to judge this year’s crop of Super Bowl commercials and/or watch which Harbaugh team prevails, consider the following:
VII Simple and Easy Super Bowl Party Green Tips
I. Carpool – If you’re hosting a party or going to one, encourage ride sharing especially if parking is limited.
II. Buy in Bulk – Whether it’s snacks or drinks, go for less packaging. One two-liter bottle is almost three 12-ounce cans.
III. Finger Foods – When someone can grab and munch, that typically means fewer plates and utensils. For those who prefer to eat their pizza or hamburger with a fork and knife, bring out the silverware and china.
IV. Two-Container (or Three-Container) System – One for trash, one for bottles and cans, and if available in your area, one for food waste. If given recycling options, most folks will use it.
V. Pizza Boxes and Paper Plates – In Alameda County, pizza boxes and used paper plates (along with paper napkins) can go into the green cart (almost everything organic).
VI. Support Your Local Products – Whether it’s a microbrew from down the street or homemade salsa from the farmer’s market, buying local helps reduce carbon emissions.
VII. Television Reuse - If you finally decided to upgrade your TV, consider donating your old one to charity or to any college student living in the dorms. And don’t forget to recycle the cardboard box that the new one came in.
“Regardless of which team wins the Super Bowl, we’re all winners if we’re able to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Jewell. “The more materials we can recycle, the greater the impact on saving earth’s precious resources.”
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Waste Management of Alameda County is a community-based provider of environmental solutions. We offer residential and commercial curbside collection for recycling, composting and disposal. Our fleet of natural gas vehicles are powered with gas made from trash at the Altamont Landfill in Livermore. WM EarthCare (www.wmearthcare.com) is our closed loop solution to organic waste. We deliver local solutions with the knowledge and resources of the nation’s largest recycler, Waste Management.
