University of Kentucky Recycling has implemented new initiatives for the 2025 football season to support their long-term goal of making Kroger Field a zero-waste facility by 2030.
In 2024, Kroger Field achieved a 31% diversion rate — meaning nearly a third of all waste generated was diverted from the landfill through recycling, composting, reuse or reduction.
This season, UK Recycling is building on that success with expanded fan engagement.
At the heart of these efforts is the Big Blue Recycling Crew, a team of students providing education and outreach to fans. Present at every home game, the crew encourages fans to recycle responsibly during tailgating and while fans enter the stadium.
This season, the crew is led by sustainability intern Emily Murphy, who is introducing limited edition game day buttons. At each home game, fans can collect a unique, recycling-themed button distributed in the tailgating lots. The goal is to make recycling part of the culture at football games.
“Combining the spirit of BBN and the student body with recycling has been our main goal while making recycling more visible,” said Murphy, a political science and law and justice sophomore in the UK College of Arts and Sciences.
This season also builds upon their partnership with UK Dining. Food waste from stadium kitchens and clubs that cannot be donated will be collected for composting — further reducing the amount of organic waste sent to the landfill.
“It’s important to recycle both in and out of the stadium,” said Ryan Lark, zero-waste specialist in UK Facilities Management. “Each water bottle, can or pizza box recycled at your tailgate or inside the stadium brings us one step closer to making Kroger Field a zero-waste facility.”
The final home game of the season, which takes place Nov. 15 against Tennessee Tech, falls on America Recycles Day, providing the perfect time to celebrate UK’s commitment to responsible waste reduction practices.
For more information on what is recyclable at UK and UK football games, visit https://bit.ly/UKWasteWizard.
Stay up to date with all things recycling — follow UK Recycling on their social media @ukyrecycles.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
Big Blue Recycling Crew members helping fans at Kroger Field to dispose of their waste.
Bree Walton
Students showing off the new game day buttons for the first football game. A unique design will be given away at each home game.
Students showing the first game day button of the season!