Mariners Stage Carbon-Neutral Game For Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, the Seattle Mariners will once again stage a carbon-neutral game with carbon off-sets, renewable energy credits and water restoration certificates. This is the fifth consecutive year the Mariners have off-set carbon impacts for Earth Day.

The Mariners are working with Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Seattle City Light’s Green Up program to offset the climate impacts of Sunday’s game between the Mariners and the Chicago White Sox. Impacts to be offset include:

• Emissions associated with natural gas used to operate Safeco Field on April 22 (1,425 Therms of natural gas),
• 134,640 gallons of water (180 CCF)
• Disposal or recycling of waste generated during the game (estimated to be 5.5 tons, 80%+ of which will be recycled)
• 52,000 kilowatt hours of electricity
• Air travel emissions for the White Sox from Chicago to Seattle and on to Oakland, as well as the air travel emissions for the umpire crew from Anaheim to Seattle and on to Dallas-Ft. Worth
• Hotel-related emissions for the White Sox and the umpires (50 hotel rooms)
• Ground travel to and from the ballpark by staff and fans (180,000 car miles)

The electricity the Mariners purchase from Seattle City Light is already carbon-free and has no greenhouse gas impacts. City Light’s Green Up program supports the development of non-carbon, alternative energy sources.

Safeco Field Soil

One of the more unusual, and popular, promotional giveaways at Safeco Field is back—Safeco Field Soil from Cedar Grove Composting. After Sunday’s game, 5,000 fans will receive bags of Safeco Field Soil. Recycling/composting diverts an estimated 900,000 pounds of peanut shells, leftover food, compostable service ware and grass clippings from the Safeco Field waste stream. The waste is transformed by Cedar Grove into compost, prized by Northwest gardeners. The other dates for Safeco Field Soil giveaways are June 16, July 14 and August 18.

Sustainable Saturdays

This season, the Mariners are partnering with BASF to present a season-spanning awareness program that will call attention to various environmental issues and organizations. The first of the Sustainable Saturdays is April 21, and focuses on the theme of “Zero Waste.” The first 10,000 fans entering the gates of the ballpark on Saturday will receive a free Kitchen Catcher countertop compost container courtesy of BASF, Seattle Public Utilities and EcoSafe.

During each of the 10 Sustainable Saturdays, BASF will sponsor a trivia contest that encourages fans to look for clues at Zero Waste Stations and text their answers to a special short-code. Each Sustainable Saturdays trivia winner will receive an Amazon Kindle Fire.

Zero Waste Stations

There are 16 “Zero Waste Stations” around Safeco Field where fans can recycle and compost their waste. They are the only locations on the concourses of the ballpark that have actual garbage cans. All other containers, some 200 of them, are for compost and plastic recycling. Volunteers from Camp Fire’s Teen Leadership Program, who have been specially trained, will staff the “Zero Waste Stations” on Sustainable Saturdays and share their knowledge and insights with fans on proper disposal of ballpark waste. Volunteers will also gain valuable knowledge about the Mariners goals of operating Safeco Field in a sustainable way.

Safeco Field a Green Ballpark

The Seattle Mariners are committed to environmental sustainability.

• Last season, over 80% of all waste at Safeco Field was recycled or composted. In 2006, the recycling rate was 13%.
• Since 2006, through conservation and capital investments, the Mariners have saved over $1.5 million in electricity, natural gas, water and sewer charges.
• Through energy conservation and diverting waste from the landfill, the Mariners have reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 31.6 million pounds (CO2), the equivalent of planting 4,311 acres of forest and taking 2,616 cars off the road.
• Four electric vehicle charging stations are located next to the Safeco Field parking garage, available for use 24 hours a day.
• An array of solar panels on the skybridge from the garage to the ballpark will generate 40,000 kilowatt hours of power annually.
• The Mariners are founding members of the Green Sports Alliance, a groundbreaking coalition of professional sports teams and sporting venues committed to promoting “greening initiatives” in sports.
• The Mariners two Recycling Superheroes, Captain Plastic and Kid Compost, encourage fans to reduce, reuse and recycle at Safeco Field and at home.