This Sunday, families and friends will gather around living rooms across the country to watch one of America’s most beloved national events, the Super Bowl. After the crowd is gone and planning their fantasy league for the next year in the comfort of their home, the stands are left with empty nacho dishes and plastic cups everywhere. In the past, this event has created an enormous amount of waste, about 40 tons of it.
In an effort to help improve the sustainability of the communities in which each Super Bowl is hosted, the National Football League (NFL) works to help decrease the litter caused by the Super Bowl and within the community in general while also improving the environment.
Regardless of who you are rooting for this Super Bowl Sunday, we encourage you to reduce waste by using reusable containers, utensils and cups. Here are some tips to have your own eco-friendly Super Bowl party this year.
- Make Recycling a Priority: You’ve heard the saying “Out of sight, out of mind.” This goes for recycling too. Make sure to have your recycling bins accessible and labeled. That way it’s just as easy to recycle as it is to dump it in the trash. Remember, packaging cardboard is great, but pizza box cardboard with food waste and grease? Recycle as much as you can, but make sure it is clean.
- Carpool: Watch the big game with friends or family and carpool to reduce emissions and save energy.
- Think About What You Can Reuse:
- Invites & Decorations: If you opt to send invites and decorate your home, Reverse Litter encourages you to send invites via email and use decorations that aren’t theme-specific, or do it yourself (DIY), so you can continue to reuse them again.
- Plates & Dishes: With all of that food, you are going to be using plenty of dishes. Opt for reusable items over single-use plates and cups. It may seem like more of a chore, but not only does it cut down on waste, it cuts your spending as well. Even if you do have to buy more plates you can continue to use them for your parties throughout the year. You may even be able to get out of having to do the dishes by betting the chore on the 49ers or Chiefs win.
- Storage: When the party is said and done, have some reusable containers ready to go to send people home with leftovers or to box it up for yourself. Bonus points if you put food scraps in your compost pile!
If you are cleaning up the aftermath from your party and are unsure about recycling any items you can easily check ReverseLitter.com for an easy to use recycling guide for all four convenience centers. May the best team win.
Great List of Local Recycling Resources
Are you looking for additional local reduce, reuse, recycle resources? Check out this 2020 list of “Recycling Resources for the Everyday Family” from DFW Child!
Know a Litter Hero?
We want to know who’s out there making a difference! Please continue to share your images and stories with us. Show us what your #ReverseLitter looks like or why you decided to join a Litter-Free program. Share your stories for a chance to be featured in one our shout outs on social media or in an upcoming newslitter!
Join Us for These Upcoming Events!
Fort Worth
Eagle Mountain Lake Community Cleanup
What: Join the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) for the 28th Annual Eagle Mountain Lake Community Cleanup. Volunteer with your family or friends for this great event dedicated to keeping our waterways free of litter. Registration for this event is required. Registration will open at the end of January 2020.
Where: Meet at 10201 N. Shore Drive
When: Cleanup Event: Saturday March 21, 8:30 – 11:00 am
After-Party at Twin Points Park: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Denton
GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP
What? For nearly 30 years, Dentonites have taken an active role in keeping their city clean and beautiful by participating in the Great American Cleanup (GAC). GAC is part of a national effort with Keep America Beautiful, and more than 20,000 communities take part each year. In 2017, 2,353 Denton volunteers joined together to clean up nearly four tons of litter at various cleanups held between March and May. These dedicated community members removed trash and recycling from our city’s streets, waterways, and public spaces, leaving Denton visibly cleaner and more beautiful. Pre-registration will begin soon, check their website for more details.
Where? Clean up: Various locations in Denton
Volunteer Party: Denton Civic Center & Quakertown Park
When? Saturday March 21
Clean up: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Volunteer Party: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fort Worth
COWTOWN CLEANUP
What? Every year thousands of volunteers join Keep Fort Worth Beautiful to make a huge impact on communities across the city by cleaning litter from parks, right of ways, rivers and other public areas. You can join this effort by registering yourself or a group to help clean areas near you.
Choose your own area to clean or we have pre-selected areas in the City called “Cleanup Hubs” that need volunteers. Registration opens Feb. 1; please visit Keep Fort Worth Beautiful’s site to learn more and register. They supply gloves and trash bags for all volunteers who register. Event t-shirts are distributed to the first 6,000 volunteers. Lunch provided at Earth Party for all volunteers.
Where? Citywide
When? Saturday April 4th, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Fort Worth
EARTH PARTY
What? A party for all great Cowtown Great American Cleanup volunteers and green enthusiasts at the largest green event in Fort Worth. There will be live music and family-friendly activities for all ages. Visit educational booths and exhibits to learn about topics like water conservation, air quality, waste reduction and recycling, environmental issues, healthy living initiatives and much more. Free and open to the public, free parking.
Where? Trinity Park, 3003 Trinity Park Drive
When? Saturday, April 4, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Other
LAKE BRIDGEPORT COMMUNITY CLEANUP
What? Help out by collecting discarded debris and litter around the lake area and community. This annual event is a great way for families and community groups to support their neighborhoods.
Where? Bridgeport, TX
When? Saturday April 18
Dallas
OAK CLIFF EARTH DAY 2020
What? Celebrate nature, the environment, and our planet at the 13th annual Earth Day event at the beautiful and historic Lake Cliff Park, made available through the generosity of Dallas Park and Recreation.
Where? Lake Cliff Park, 300 E Colorado, Dallas, TX 75201
When? Sunday April 19 noon to 5 p.m.
Dallas
OAK CLIFF EARTH DAY 2020
What? Attend the world’s largest environmental experience exposition featuring food trucks, scuba diving, goat yoga, a tiny house exhibit and much, much more. Information available here.
Where? Fair Park, 3921 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
When? April 24 – 26