Dive Brief:
- Waste Pro has announced a partnership with the New Orleans Saints to become the team's official waste and recycling partner in a multiyear contract.
- This partnership makes Waste Pro responsible for all solid waste collection and recycling at home games and other special events held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the Saints training facility.
- Former Saints running back Deuce McAllister was named president of Waste Pro of Louisiana back in August, and he will take the reins on leading the partnership.
Dive Insight:
The waste industry isn't shy when it comes to partnering with major league sports teams across the nation. In June, Delaware-based Waste Masters Solutions signed an "extensive" multiyear corporate partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Buffalo Bills have had a long history of working with Republic Services. Additionally, teams will tend to partner with waste companies for more niche projects, like the Detroit Lions' efforts to promote sustainability through a partnership with Repreve that allowed players to wear recycled jerseys.
Pairing stadiums and sports teams with waste management companies is crucial to mitigate the enormous amount of waste that is created at each game. According to Waste Management, the top 200 stadiums in the nation draw in nearly 181 million visitors, and many obstacles stand in the way of waste diversion such as ever-changing concessions and fan engagement.
Obviously, waste management is not the main focus of many fans at sports games, therefore the industry must come up with creative solutions to create buy-in. Waste Management integrated "Fan Cans," developed by Fan Cans LLC, which feature batting helmets, football helmets or racing helmets over the lid, while the Saints actually participated in a recycling contest that encouraged children to recycle with the incentive of "winners" being invited to participate in the Saints Junior Training Camp. And while these efforts are a significant step forward, it is clear that more can be done.
