The “4 A Greener Game Recycling Program” at Busch Stadium

The St. Louis Cardinals are greening their operations, from recycling and waste reduction to energy efficiency and the use of recycled materials.

The Cardinals began the “4 A Greener Game Program” at Busch Stadium in the 2008 season in collaboration with StLouisGreen.com and its volunteers. What began as a 2-month pilot program grew into a volunteer program that spanned the entire 2009 baseball season and averaged 20 volunteers at each game.

Cardinals Make Recycling Easy for Fans
Since its inception, the program has diverted over 500 tons of recycling from the stadium trash disposal. The program’s success is due in part to 350 conveniently placed recycling bins around the stadium, making it easy for fans to recycle when they come to a baseball game. Success is also due in large part to volunteers who collect recyclables during games, and the maintenance staff who separate additional recyclables from the trash after a game.

It’s Getting Better All The Time
The Cardinals and StLouisGreen.com volunteers aim to improve on waste management results year after year, by continuing to increase the percentage of waste recycled, decrease the amount of waste produced, and improve energy efficiency. The Cardinals will enhance their waste management practices with the purchase of a cardboard compactor, permanent recycling bins, tilt trucks for collecting recycling around the stadium, and improved signage.

Goodbye Styrofoam, Hello Dishwashers
The Cardinals sustainability efforts have gone organization-wide. The Cardinals’ Environmental Policy Statement promotes waste reduction, the use of recycled materials, and energy efficiency. Cardinals employees no longer use Styrofoam cups and plates in their offices. Instead, they use real dishes and flatware, and then wash them in newly installed dishwashers. In order to use more recycled materials, the Cardinals switched all the bathroom paper products to 100% post consumer recycled material. They also adopted energy efficiency measures and installed compact fluorescent light bulbs and motion sensor light switches.

All-Stars, All Green
The Cardinals’ Environmental Policy was on full display during the 2009 All-Star game and events. During those six days, the Cardinals recycled 10 ½ tons of waste. They also reduced the event’s carbon footprint by purchasing wind energy through the AmerenUE Pure Power Program.