The Chicago Cubs have partnered with Solo Cup Company, Allied Waste, Free Green Can and Levy Restaurants to introduce the “Real Fans Recycle” program at Wrigley Field. In total, the Chicago Cubs and its fans are expected to divert roughly 165,000 pounds of cardboard and plastic material out of the waste stream and back into the market in a recycled form each year, saving approximately 2,180 cubic yards of landfill space.

Fans will play a direct role in the recycling efforts. They can now recycle all of their plastic cups in specially-marked bins throughout the park. Once recycled, the plastic cups will be used to make plastic lumber for picnic tables and park benches, carpet fibers, clothing, automotive parts, paint brushes and more plastic cups.

Solo Cup Company is the exclusive cup of Wrigley Field and sponsor of the “Real Fans Recycle” initiative. Levy Restaurants, Wrigley Field’s restaurant partner, and the Chicago Cubs converted to more recyclable cups for the 2010 season in order to improve the ballpark’s environmental footprint. New plastic cups from the eco-forward Bare by Solo product line are made with 20 percent recycled PET (the same #1 plastic from which water bottles are made). The cups can also be recycled again through a program made available by Allied Waste.

In addition, fans will be using 100 percent recycled napkins, compostable plates and cutlery. All ushers and event staff now wear Solo-sponsored shirts made from 100 percent recycled material, including recycled PET plastic from which Wrigley Field beverage cups are made, with the wording “Real Fans Recycle.” This message can also be seen on many of the beverage cups and throughout Wrigley Field’s concourse.

“We commend the Chicago Cubs, Levy Restaurants, Free Green Can and Allied Waste for their willingness to work with us on an end-to-end solution that will make a real difference in the amount of solid waste diverted from landfills at Wrigley Field this year. This can be a model for what other sports venues across the country can achieve,” said Kim Frankovich, vice president of sustainability, Solo Cup Company. “Cubs fans can help us make this program a success by putting their plastic cups and bottles in the recycling bins separate from other trash.”

“Allied Waste of Chicago is proud to partner with the Chicago Cubs efforts to keep Wrigley Field a green and clean venue for Major League Baseball,” said John Larsen, general manager, Allied Waste. “Allied Waste and the Cubs are continually improving recycling programs to make it easy for fans to participate and do the right thing for the environment all year round.”

Outside the park, fans will find 25 dual-purpose (recycling/trash) Free Green Cans surrounding the outer footprint of Wrigley Field, providing year-round public recycling opportunities for Cubs fans, residents and visitors of the Wrigleyville neighborhood.

The Free Green Can “Recycling on the Go” program is also exclusively sponsored by the Solo Cup Company and allows users to recycle glass, plastic, paper and aluminum at one convenient station. Recyclables deposited in just one Free Green Can make a significant environmental impact each year. One can is expected to save approximately 10,920 hours of running a 60-watt bulb, 8,385 hours of energy running a TV and 15 trees each year.

“We believe that people fundamentally want to help the environment and that if recycling is made easy, people will make the right choices,” said Steve Holland, president and chief executive officer of Free Green Can. “We’re happy to be in partnership with the Chicago Cubs, Solo Cup Company, Levy Restaurants and Allied Waste to help make Wrigley Field one of the country’s greenest venues."

Free Green Can, in partnership with Allied Waste, will report the environmental impact of its “Recycling on the Go” program to the Cubs on a regular basis.

SOURCE: Solo Cup Company

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