Today, we are in Seattle, WA for the annual Green Sports Alliance Summit, and it is very informative and exciting event. The agenda is packed with tours of Seattle’s most sustainable sports venues, hands-on workshops, inspiring keynotes and high-caliber networking opportunities with industry leaders.
The GreenDrop Recycling Station is also a featured element in the Ingeo Eco-Lounge hosted by NatureWorks. The Eco-Lounge is where Third Party Experts discuss how to shift “zero waste” sports venues from an abstract concept to an everyday reality. The expert speakers represent International Paper, Fabri-Kal, the Pittsburgh Pirates, AgRecycle, StalkMarket and the Rose Quarter, home of the Portland Trail Blazers, where they have used the GreenDrop station since 2008. The Rose Quarter went from a 38% Landfill Diversion Rate to a 90% in 2011.
The unique GreenDrop Recycling Station was designed through the efforts of the Portland Trail Blazers Head Office to reduce their environmental footprint while minimizing expenses and being fiscally responsible through sustainable operations. Extensive research, including a university study, took place in developing the GreenDrop Stations by observing public habits and interaction to various recycling configurations. The result was an ADA conforming, four compartment unit made of recycled plastic that allows users to send food, drinks and compostable plates, cups and utensils to a composter instead of a landfill, while separating recyclable items as well.
