New Stadium Recycling Program

In 2004, PSSI/Stanford Recycling was awarded a grant by the California Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling to establish a bottle and can recycling program at the Stanford Stadium. Working in partnership with the Department of Athletics, PSSI/Stanford Recycling implemented a collection program for bottles and cans and corrugated cardboard. We placed a bottle and can recycling bin next to each trash can throughout the stadium. We also provided cardboard recycling dumpsters around the stadium and enlisted the support of Stanford Concessions to recycle their cardboard.

In choosing our recycling bins we used the following criteria: the bins had to 1) be able to handle a large volume, 2) be aesthetically pleasing, 3) be able to be emptied manually as well as in an automated way for flexibility during games and efficiency after games, and 4) have restricted openings to reduce contamination.


We went with Greenstone color bins which were aesthetically pleasing and went well with the stadium. We decided to use 96 gallon wheeled Toter bins at each of the gate entrances so they could easily be moved outside the gate when the gates opened and inside the gate at the end of the game. The large openings allowed people to throw away many bottles at one time. We also used the wheeled carts inside the locker rooms. At each of the stairwells leading into the stadium, we used the Otto Recyclers. These bins are 60 gallons with restrictive lids and can either be emptied manually or with an automated truck. In the press box, we placed Toter Slimline containers. And finally, in the upper corridor called the mineshaft we used the existing 55 gallon steel drums trash cans and turned them into recycling bins by placing Kettle Creek's clear lid on them. In addition, we lined the recycling bins with clear plastic bags and the garbage bins with dark plastic bags when a liner was necessary.


We trained the Athletic Staff including the ushers, public safety, custodians, and concessionaires. The clean up crews used clear plastic bags to collect bottles and cans and a dark plastic bag to collect trash in the stands after the game was over. Bags of recyclables were then consolidated in roll-off boxes and taken to the on-campus sorting facility. The recycling bins were emptied by an automated truck.

We promoted the new recycling program through container labels, ads in the football program, radio announcements, video on the video scoreboard, on-field promotion, and participating and staffing a booth at FanFest - a festival like area that is open before each game. We used artwork provided by the California Department of Conservation Division of Recycling.



During the first season of the recycling program, the attendance at the football games average about 22,501 people for a total of 135,000 people at a total of six games. An average of 4750 plastic bottles of water and soda were sold at each of the six games for a total of 28,500. We were able to recycle 3059 pounds of primarily plastic water bottles although there were some aluminum and glass containers.

We look forward to another successful season of recycling bottles and cans and cardboard at the Stanford Stadium. Go Cardinals!

Video: Below is a link to the promotional video that is shown during the football games to promote the stadium's recycling program. This was created and produced by Stanford Athletics.

Recycling at the Stadium Promotional Video