By Lindsay Gaesser, SDA Media Relations

TEMPE, Ariz.—The Arizona State men’s basketball team wasted no effort in its double-overtime win against in-state rival Arizona on Feb. 14, and neither did the fans.  As a part of Sun Devil Athletics’ Zero Waste Initiative, a bipartisan crowd of 10,754 at Wells Fargo Arena achieved a waste diversion rate of 87 percent.

The Territorial Cup® matchup created 656 pounds and 708 pounds of recycled and compostable materials, respectively, while just 197 pounds of trash was sent to the landfill. Arizona State is reporting the rate as a part of the RecycleMania Game Day Basketball Challenge.

A breakdown of the game can be seen below:

	Recyclable	Compostable	Landfill	Total
Total (lbs)	656.0	708.0	196.8	1560.8
% Total	42.0%	45.4%	12.6%	--

The term “zero waste” refers to a 90 percent diversion rate of trash from landfills, which is achieved by recycling and composting.  In order to achieve that goal, most items purchased inside Wells Fargo Arena are either recyclable or compostable.

Leading the nation in solar panel installations with nine athletic-specific systems and one dedicated to the campus’ recreational facility, Sun Devil Athletics was named one of the top-10 athletic departments for sustainability last August by the Natural Resource Defense Council. In an effort to broaden its sustainability initiatives, Sun Devil Athletics has adopted a zero waste initiative to minimize its carbon footprint.

In addition to Wells Fargo Arena, Packard Stadium, Farrington Stadium, and Sun Devil Stadium have transitioned into zero-waste facilities.  Zero Waste is just a small part of ASU’s overall commitment to sustainability, which includes campus-wide recycling efforts, green curriculum, and green building practices.