With nearly 55 tons recycled at the University of Tennessee’s (UT) home games last year and a goal of 64 tons this year, the Good Sports Always Recycle™ program is a stadium recycling program that the university and its sponsors can be proud of.  But, another aspect of the program, Good Sports Always Recycle™ (GSAR) school challenge, is perhaps what makes the UT tradition so unique and such an important program for Tennessee’s K-12 schools.   
Going on its 18th year, the GSAR program is once again kicking-off its school challenge, where schools statewide are encouraged to enter their environmental programs into a competition for a chance to be recognized as one of Tennessee’s top ten.  The winning schools each receive $500 to help with environmental efforts in their school, as well as a one-of-a-kind tailgate celebration in CirclePark, the chance to stand on the field during the game at the University of Tennessee vs. South Carolina game on Oct. 29 and a commemorative plaque recognizing their efforts.
“At Eastman, we believe sustainability is an attitude and we want to create a future environment our children and grandchildren can enjoy. With  programs like Good Sports Always Recycle, we encourage  fans to actively participate in   waste reduction, reuse and recycling, and we hope to  influence  the next generation of  UT students, fans and employees,” said Anne Kilgore, director of Global Sustainability with Eastman Chemical Company.  “It’s always wonderful to see the programs schools have in place to help their community environmentally, and it’s a great opportunity for them to receive the recognition needed to keep these programs going strong.”
Schools interested in participating can fill out and submit the nomination form at www.Eastman.com/GSAR.  This year’s entry deadline is September 23, 2011.   
Schools will be judged on the impact their recycling program has on their school and community, their new and unique approaches to recycling and waste reduction, their overall environmental efforts, as well as the investments they have made, and will continue to make, in a recycling program.  
To-date, the GSAR program has recognized 170 schools for their winning sustainability efforts. The stadium recycling portion of the program includes 600 recycling bins which are placed outside of Neyland Stadium, 250 recycling bins on the concourses and another 120 in the skyboxes to encourage recycling.  There are also 80 recycling bins at other athletic venues throughout campus.  
In addition to the school recycling challenge, the Good Sports Always Recycle™ program provides an educational packet (available online at www.Eastman.com/GSAR) for teachers with helpful and fun activities to educate students about reducing, reusing and recycling in an effort to help create a more sustainable environment. Suggested lesson plans offer ways to get these efforts started, as well as recycling tips, resources, and program ideas to help boost environmental efforts at school and home. This packet is designed to instruct all grade levels and is divided into elementary, middle and high school lesson plans and activities.
For more information about Good Sports Always Recycle™ program, please visit www.Eastman.com/GSAR  or contact Jennifer Wiggins at (865) 680.1457 or jwiggins@akinscrisp.com.  The nomination deadline for the Good Sports Always Recycle™ program recycling challenge is September 23, 2011.  Entries can be submitted online, faxed to (865) 483-8851 or mailed to Good Sports Always Recycle, 173 Mitchell Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830.  
 

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