Portland, OR (September 8, 2014)–Major League Soccer understands the importance of environmental sustainability and is committed to identifying ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Major League Soccer and the Portland Timbers chose GreenDrop Recycling Stations to help implement their strategic sustainability plans for waste diversion at this year’s 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game in Portland, OR, at Providence Park.
Through the MLS WORKS Greener Goals program, the League aims to educate the soccer community about environmental best practices, help make their facilities more environmentally friendly and undertake “green” community initiatives in collaboration with their clubs and in partnership with respected organizations such as the Green Sports Alliance and Natural Resources Defense Council.
“We are very pleased to partner with GreenDrop to provide these convenient and intuitive recycling stations throughout Providence Park for the hundreds of thousands of guests that visit the stadium each season,” said Kristel Wissel, Director of Community Relations for the Timbers. “This program enables our fans to easily self-sort their recyclable and compostable items. It is a natural extension of our already robust sustainability practices.”
The unique, market-leading GreenDrop Recycling Station was designed through multi-year efforts of the Portland Trail Blazers head office at the newly named Moda Center. The arena’s landfill diversion rate increased from 38% in 2007 to over 90% in 2013, by replacing old-style garbage cans with GreenDrop Recycling Stations. GreenDrop Recycling Stations reduce landfill contributions by enabling guests to easily self-sort recyclable and compostable items. Self-sorting reduces the environmental footprint while minimizing waste hauling expenses and being fiscally responsible through sustainable operations.
Lyle Peters, Director of Sales for the GreenDrop Stations at Pacific Cascade Corporation based in Vancouver, WA, adds, “We at Pacific Cascade are very happy to have soccer fans from all over the country interact with our GreenDrop Recycling Stations and see what we are doing in the Pacific Northwest to promote sustainable practices. Twenty-five stations were deployed throughout Providence Park and this will make a significant impact on landfill diversion.”
The GreenDrop stations are now a permanent fixture at the stadium and will help the Portland Timbers community outreach platform, Stand Together continue to educate their fans and enhance the significant sustainability efforts already in place throughout Portland.