For You Environmentally Enthusiast
October 24, 2008 – 1:52 am PT by MeTags: X Games —
Do you tend recycle bottles as hard as you skateboard? Do you find yourself reusing paper as fast as you bomb hills on your bike? Or do you try to place recyclable material in its proper place as you roll around on your recycled Roller Blades? If so, you may be a bigger fan of the X Games now that they are the most environmental friendly action sporting events known to man. For the second year in a row, the X Games delivered more than an 80 percent recycling rate at X Games 14.
In the four years since the XGE program’s inception, the X Games have now recycled more than 422 tons of material from both its summer and winter flagship events. These results indicate that progressive waste minimization and resource conservation initiatives implemented throughout the planning and execution of the event continue to drive a new standard for environmental excellence in action sporting events. If you too are an environmental enthusiast, check out the press release below. It’s pretty extreme.
These accomplishments were achieved in part through an innovative composting program designed to capture and divert organic materials from the landfill. Spectators and staff alike were encouraged to participate in this program by composting paper and food products. The staff catering area has excelled in this effort through the use of compostable service products such as cups made from corn-based PLA plastic; plates, bowls and to-go containers made from bagasse, a sugarcane by-product; utensils made from potato starch; and napkins made from recycled content paper. Products like these ensured that a majority of diners’ discards could be composted. In addition, 90 gallons of kitchen grease generated by the staff catering kitchen was recycled into biodiesel and more than 3,500 pounds of surplus food and catering supplies were donated to a Los Angeles area food bank.
Custom designed, three-way collection receptacles provided sorting for beverage containers, trash and organic waste in public and back-of-house areas, and included colorful graphics to educate participants about proper sorting procedures. In addition, cardboard and wood were also collected for recycling. Nearly 47.2 tons of wood and cardboard, which represented 61 percent of the total waste generated by the event was diverted from the landfill and either reused or sent to a specialized recycling facility.
In another XGE initiative, reusable water bottles were distributed to all X Games staff and athletes as water refilling stations were strategically located throughout the event, eliminating the need for nearly 50,000 individual single-use plastic water bottles.
In a continued effort to raise awareness about use of renewable energy and ways to combat climate change, XGE introduced Tour de X, an initiative enabling people to learn about and interact with cutting edge alternative energy technology. Spectators were able to recharge their cell phones, cameras and other personal electronics just by riding specially outfitted Tour de X bikes. Additionally, XGE contributed to help the Arbor Day Foundation plant 5,000 Longleaf Pine trees in the John M. Bethea State Forest in northern Florida to assist with reforestation efforts following the Bugaboo wildfire of spring 2007.
“It’s a significant accomplishment to have such high levels of recycling at an event this large,” said Chris Stiepock, general manager and vice president, X Games franchise. “It would not be possible without the commitment of the entire staff and key suppliers who keep the environment top of mind when planning and executing the event.”