Athletics continues to make strikes toward becoming greener and more sustainable.

Through the first five home football games in fall 2013, UNL has diverted an average of 75 percent of Memorial Stadium waste from the landfill to recycling options. The pace is 15 percent more than the 60 percent averaged in 2012.

Athletics has also finalized a recycling agreement with Pinnacle Bank Arena, the new home to Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball. The agreement was established with a $150,000 recycling grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

The program will allow fans to recycle glass, paper, cans and bottles at multi-container stations in Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Athletics works closely with Recycling Enterprises, the service that collects the athletics department’s recyclables at Husker home events and year round from offices. Since teaming up with Recycling Enterprises in 2009, Athletics’ average recycling rate has steadily increased annually.

UNL Campus Landscaping leads the charge for recycling in parking lot areas with the help of student groups.

The latest recycling initiatives allow the community to get involved. “Go Green for Big Red,” is a campaign where volunteers provide football tailgaters recycling bags while student volunteers walk around parking lots to collect recyclables and provide additional recycling containers along walkways.

Athletics facilities maintenance also takes part in the effort to make UNL a greener campus. Athletics facilities have transitioned to all “green” cleaning products in sports centers. Motion sensors on bathroom lights, energy saving toilet fixtures, and the installation of longer lasting, more efficient light bulbs have significantly increased energy savings.