‘Garnet & Gold Goes Green’ celebrates 10 years

The traditional gift for a 10thanniversary is aluminum, which is fitting as Florida State University celebrates 10 years of its Garnet & Gold Goes Green (GGGG or G4) game day recycling program at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Since its inception, the program has collected more than 145 tons of recyclable material — cans, bottles, and cardboard — from its game day activities. It surpassed the 100-ton mark during the third game of the 2012 football season. In addition, it has expanded into other large campus events, ranging from Parents Weekend to Dance Marathon, and it has twice provided recycling services to the ESPN Game Day crew on visits to Doak Campbell Stadium.

“Throughout this football season, we hope fans will celebrate with us by disposing of cans and bottles in the correct bins inside and outside of Doak Campbell Stadium, or by setting up their own recycling stations in tailgate areas — we’ll be sure these items are collected,” said Elizabeth Swiman, director of Campus Sustainability.

The program began as a litter prevention effort hosted by Tri-Eagle Sales as part of its “Be a Good Sport” and “Pitch In” campaigns. Student organizations were recruited to help collect trash and recycling before each home football game. The program evolved into an open volunteer program through the university’s Center for Leadership and Social Change and the Sustainable Campus program.

“We have grown to include hundreds of student volunteers who have served thousands of community service hours,” said Swiman, who praised the commitment of the program’s student volunteers, visible by their signature bright gold tank tops, as the program’s front line and the reason for its success.

“They are dedicated to keeping our campus clean and green during game day and to cheer on football fans with their own game-day recycling efforts,” said Swiman, who encourages fans to give G4 volunteers a high-five whenever they meet one. “They may even have a fun prize for fans this season!”

Swiman also praised the university’s Solid Waste & Recycling crew and the ROTC Seminole Battalion, which work in less visible, behind-the-scenes capacities to clean up after the games to maintain the beauty of Florida State’s campus.

The program also owes its success to support from across campus and partners such as Tri-Eagle Sales, Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Recycling, and Aramark.