University of Texas at Austin
IN-4: Green Athletics

Texas Athletics, in conjunction with the University of Texas, promotes and supports sustainability. We make sustainability a priority in all endeavors and encourage fans to do their part to create a clean and sustainable gameday environment. As part of our "Bleed Orange, Live Green" campaign, Texas Athletics is committed to reach a zero waste goal by 2018. With their distinctive green shirts, the Sustainability Squad serves as the face of Athletics’ sustainability efforts to fans on game days. The Squad is composed of two volunteer groups-the Spirit Squad and Sort Squad-that are present at every home football game, as well as baseball and softball games. The Spirit Squad members educate fans about how to recycle and compost, explain the zero waste goal, and monitor the stadium’s recycling and compost bins. The Sort Squad sorts through waste generated throughout the game and ensures collection of compost and recycling. Volunteers receive service hours as well as a free t-shirt. Food and Beverage Purchasing Our food vendors adhere to our zero waste purchasing policies, trying whenever possible to purchase recyclable or compostable materials as well as locally, organically grown produce. Turf Maintenance and Groundskeeping The university set a sustainability goal of reducing campus water consumption by 20% by the year 2020 with a baseline of 2009 in the Natural Resource Conservation Plan. UT Austin manages domestic water, has upgraded irrigation, and used reclaimed water and water recovery strategies to reduce campus water consumption. Transportation Options At football games, we arrange for the Longhorns Express to shuttle fans to the stadium from remote locations so that they don't have to drive all the way to the football game Community Engagement Coordinating clean up events at both Town Lake and on campus at our adopt-a-street location through Keep Austin Beautiful. Partnering with Campus Environmental Center, Office of Sustainability, and Housing and Dining to educate incoming students during summer orientations. Partnering with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council for various events including a zero waste initiative in our student-athlete dining hall and a gently used shoe collection drive for student-athletes going on a summer mission trip.

https://sustainability.utexas.edu/conservation/water https://texassports.com/news/2017/12/21/ut-athletics-texas-athletics-sustainability-continues-to-improve-its-zero-waste-efforts-at-darrell-k-royal-texas-memorial-stadium.aspx