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The Pirates "Let's Go Bucs. Let's Go Green." program integrates greening initiatives, sustainable business practices and educational outreach.
The program's launch in 2008 marked the beginning of a dedicated effort by the Pirates and PNC Park partners CB Richard Ellis, ARAMARK and Levy Restaurants to be more environmentally conscious in their collective efforts to go green moving forward. The initiatives that are being put in place at PNC Park will have an immediate positive impact and not only make sense for the environment, but business sense as well.
The "Let's Go Bucs. Let's Go Green." program is also a way that the Pirates are utilizing the club's position within the community to raise awareness of this important issue.
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"This is the beginning of a dedicated effort by the Pirates, and our partners, to strengthen our commitment to go green when possible moving forward," said Bob Nutting, Pirates Chairman of the Board. "The measures being put into place at PNC Park will have an immediate positive impact. These initiatives not only make sense for the environment, but they make good business sense as well."
The Pirates bolstered these greening efforts in 2009 by incorporating composting, which is the recycling and reusing of organic materials to enhance soils and foster the growth of plants. The Pirates are one of only four major league teams, and only East coast club to take this step in their ballpark. This program will allow for the collection of approximately three tons of organic material, which will help in slowing down the production of methane, a greenhouse gas that is generated when food and organic material decompose in the landfill.
PROGRAM PROGRESS
Through the work of greening initiatives during the 2009 season the Pirates recycled:
- 2.6 tons of Glass
- 5.5 tons of aluminum cans
- 33.5 tons of plastic
- 6.9 tons of paper
- 84 tons of baled cardboard and skids of catalogs
- 16.5 tons of used cooking oil
- 41.7 tons of yard waste
- 130.7 tons of food waste
- 24.8 tons of compost materials
For 2008 total numbers, click here »
- 870 pounds of Glass
- 5,913 pounds of aluminum cans
- 33,547 pounds of plastic
- 3.61 tons of mixed paper
- 193 tons of baled cardboard and skids of catalogs
- 20,100 gallons of used cooking oil
PROGRAM INITIATIVES
The following are some of the program elements:
A fan recycles his plastic bottle during a game. |
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An usher collects plastic bottles for recycling. |
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Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting (middle) discusses the Pirates "Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Green" campaign on CBS's The Early Show. |
- Recycling - Beginning in 2008, the Pirates implemented a robust recycling program at PNC Park. The club placed contour bottle receptacles throughout the ballpark with the "Let's Go Bucs. Let's Go Green" logo to draw the attention of fans to the initiative. At the end of each game, the Pirates have game day staff stationed at the exits of each section to collect any plastic bottles fans collect from their seating area. A "Green Team" made up of members from the PNC Park cleaning staff walks through every area of the ballpark picking up all plastic bottles prior to the ballpark's cleaning each night. All bottles are collected and recycled. The club continues to recycle all cardboard, as it has since PNC Park opened.
- Concessionaire Initiatives - Both of PNC Park's concessionaires, ARAMARK and Levy Restaurants, use corn-based beverage cups. The companies also have eliminated most of the non-biodegradable materials in the utensils, plates, napkins and food carriers that were used to serve fans in years past.
- Energy - The Pirates are taking steps to make the ballpark more energy efficient by installing motion detectors in specific locations, using the lowest voltage lights possible in all Exit signs and switching to more energy efficient bulbs that are now available. The club will also be conducting a complete energy audit to discover additional opportunities for energy conservation.
- Paper Usage - All paper used in the ballpark and in the Pirates front office is more environmentally friendly. The toilet paper is now made from 100% recycled materials and restroom hand towels are made from 45% recycled materials. All of the team's office paper, including copy paper, team stationary and business cards are made from 30-percent post-consumer paper. The club also has eliminated the use of Styrofoam cups in the front office as well as separates office trash into dry and wet receptacles in order to recycle all dry waste paper products.
- Printing - The Pirates print the club's various publications in soy-based ink on FSC certified paper, including the club's game day publication Pirates Insider, annual Community Report and PNC Park's A to Z Guide.
- Fuel Flex Vehicles - All Pirates U.S.-based scouts now drive Chevy flex fuel vehicles that will conserve fuel usage and save on costs.
- Cleaning Products - CB Richard Ellis uses Environmental Protection Agency recommended Designed for Environment (DFE) cleaning products to clean the ballpark.
- Awareness Campaign - The Pirates promote the program through a number of channels, including in-ballpark signage and public service announcements from Pirates players. The club promotes various program initiatives on the club's official website, pirates.com, in various publications and during game broadcasts. The club also educates and empowers its employees to take part in and promote the program.
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Pirates are a storied baseball club whose beginnings date to 1887 and whose achievements continue to inspire and excite legions of baseball fans in Pittsburgh and beyond; and,
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Pirates organization has demonstrated extraordinary vision and leadership in the implementation of the Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Green program, a program lauded by the environmental community, government officials and private citizens as a model of socially responsible business; and,
WHEREAS, designed to green PNC Park's operations and implement sustainable business practices, the program's components include educational outreach and the capture of more than 760,000 recyclable containers throughout the baseball season, the use of corn-based beverage cups by PNC Park's concessionaires, the elimination of Styrofoam cups, the addition of environmentally-friendly paper products, the installation of motion-detectors and energy saving light bulbs, among many other positive changes; and,
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Pirates recognize the enormous and immediate impact of these changes both on our physical and economic environment; and,
WHEREAS, the first green Pittsburgh Pirates home game took place on April 7, 2008;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the Pittsburgh Pirates for being a leader in our city's charge to be the center of innovation, green initiatives and sustainable practices in the United States and around the world; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare April 7 - 11 "Let's Go Bucs, Let's Go Green Week" in the City of Pittsburgh.
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