Football season kicks off at John Tarleton Park with a greener touch, a recycling program. Nearly 150 teams use the fields on Sutherland Avenue, playing 45 games a week, and attracting close to 3,000 people each day. That adds up to a lot of sports drinks and water bottles.
Working with Ijams Nature Center and Waste Connections, Inc., Knox County has placed recycling containers at each field and at the concession stands. They are identified by a large white label with the green recycling arrows, and a center hole for disposal. Waste Connections will pick up the recyclables with their regularly scheduled trash pick up.
“This is a program we are really proud of,” said Doug Bataille, Knox County Senior Director of Parks and Recreation. “We’ve been working on this since last year in an effort to be more “green” in our parks. It will make a big impact on the amount of trash collected, and we hope to expand it to our other sports facilities in the future.”
During the first few weeks of the program, Ijams Nature Center staff members will be at the park to educate folks about recycling. Announcements will be made prior to each game to encourage participation in the program. It is important that trash is kept out of the recycling containers, therefore, trash cans will be placed adjacent to each of the recycling bins.
