Michigan Wolverines and Tennessee Volunteers Go Head-to-Head in Recycling Bowl

The Recycle Bowl transcends the realm of sports and rallies two powerhouse teams, the Michigan Wolverines and the Tennessee Volunteers. The cause is one that truly resonates with the global community - building a more sustainable world and achieving true circularity by helping increase recycling rates.

In a display of environmental stewardship, and friendly collegiate rivalry, the Michigan Wolverines and the Tennessee Volunteers will go head-to-head – off the field, but in their respective stadiums – to see who can recycle the most during their separate games. On the line: bragging rights and the opportunity to set a new World Record. During this historic occasion, these giants of collegiate sports will become champions not only on the field but lead a cause all fans can support: recycling.

During the 2022 season, the University of Tennessee set a world record for the World’s Largest College Recycling Event as 38,452.2 pounds of reused or recyclable materials at their November 12^th home game. When the 2023 season rolled around, they issued a challenge to the University of Michigan and its fan base.

A zero-waste Michigan Stadium supports U of M’s deep commitment to sustainability in education, research, and operations. Michigan Stadium has a 20-year recycling tradition and is committed to diverting recyclable and compostable materials from landfills. In fact, Michigan Stadium was recently featured in Waste 360 as one of the top college football stadiums in the country for its recycling efforts. The story noted that, “once Michigan Stadium is filled to the brim in blue and maize, attendees will see plenty of signage pointing them to containers for recycling and composting, food and beverages are served in compostable containers, cups, and trays, and after the game you can find cleanup crews sorting waste before it’s sent off to the proper facility.”

Recycling at The Big House is easy! To participate in the Recycle Bowl on September 23^rd, fans are encouraged to:

Nearly all the food service items purchased in Michigan Stadium can be recycled or composted. The job of Wolverine fans is to make sure everything gets into the proper bin during the “Recycle Bowl” – and during every home game this football season.

“Michigan Athletics is pleased to partner with the University of Tennessee in the Recycle Bowl,” said Kurt Svoboda, Associate Athletic Director for External Communications and Public Relations. “Our efforts in Ann Arbor are specifically aimed at supporting our campus-wide sustainability effort known as Planet Blue and achieving our zero-waste goal.”

The Recycle Bowl is supported by a number of committed corporate partners including: Amcor, Absopure, Clean Tech, Husky, LyondellBasell, The Plastic Industry Association, Plastipak, and the National Association for PET Container Resources. This event is a great reminder to us all that when we all recycle – whether it be at home, at the tailgate or at the game – it’s the planet that wins.