Cardinals Announce Schedule for 6th Annual Green Week at Busch

After kicking off Green Week activities on Earth Day with an E-Cycling and General Donations Drive, the Cardinals have released the full schedule of events for the 6^th annual Green Week (#4AGreenerGame) at Busch happening Monday, April 27 through Thursday, April 30. Following is a listing of the week's activities designed to promote recycling, both inside and outside of Busch Stadium.

Monday, April 27 through Thursday, April 30

The Cardinals, in partnership with Shoeman Water Projects, will collect shoes at Busch Stadium gates before the games on Monday, April 27 through Thursday, April 30. Fans are asked to clean out their closets of any unwanted, gently-used shoes, tie or band them together, and drop them in the designated shoe collection bags. Shoeman Water Projects creates clean drinking water for those in need by selling shoes to exporters for resale and then using the money generated from those sales to purchase well-drilling rigs and water purification systems in developing countries.

On Wednesday, April 29, Operation Food Search will recognize the Cardinals and the team's concessionaire, Delaware North Sportservice, in an on-field ceremony prior to the game. Together, the Cardinals and Delaware North Companies diverted nearly 12,000 pounds of unused food from concessions stands in Busch Stadium to Operation Food Search in 2014, which reduced the amount of waste going to landfills. When food decomposes in landfills, it becomes a source of greenhouse gas emissions. The Cardinals are exceeding their food recovery goals, which results in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, slowing climate change while contributing to Operation Food Search's efforts in feeding 200,000 of our neighbors in need.

With the help of Ameren Missouri Pure Power, the Cardinals will offset energy consumption by purchasing renewable energy credits (recs) for the duration of Green Week. By purchasing recs, the Cardinals will offset 100% of the energy used at Busch Stadium for the games during Green Week.

The Bi-State Development Agency/Metro is proud to join the St. Louis Cardinals and other partners for 2015 Green Week at Busch Stadium. By transporting thousands of fans and stadium workers to and from each home game on MetroLink trains and MetroBus vehicles, together we are helping reduce air pollution by having fewer automobiles on the roadways. It takes a team of partners and volunteers to go green and stay green, and Metro applauds and supports the Cardinals sustainability goals and recycling efforts inside and outside of the ballpark.

During Green Week, and all season long, the St. Louis Cardinals Knight FM Green Team volunteers walk down the aisles of the seating bowl in-between innings and collect recyclables from fans while promoting recycling at Busch Stadium. In exchange for their services, they are able to watch the game in standing room only sections of Busch Stadium, as collections are only done in-between innings and during pitching changes so as not to disturb fans trying to watch the game. To volunteer, e-mail [email protected], or for more information, visit cardinals.com/green. On Wednesday, April 29, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency will honor some of the outstanding Green Team volunteers.

This week and throughout the season, fans are also encouraged to donate new or gently used baseball and softball equipment at a special bin located at the Family Pavilion in Busch Stadium, as part of "Rawlings Replay." "Rawlings Replay," which was established in 2011, supports Redbird Rookies, the flagship program of Cardinals Care, which provides under-served youth with the opportunity to play baseball for free, as well as a variety of other support services. Fans are also encouraged to donate at St. Louis area Johnny Mac's locations and receive a special discount in-store on new Rawlings products. Members of the Cardinals Kids Club (cardinals.com/kidsclub) receive an additional voucher good for two tickets to a 2015 game, if donations are made at Johnny Mac's.

Since the launch of 4 A Greener Game (#4AGreenerGame) in 2008, the Cardinals have diverted nearly 2,400 tons of solid waste from local landfills, and Busch Stadium continues to become more energy efficient through participation in Ameren Missouri's Business Energy Efficiency Program. For instance:

• The team has reduced energy use by 20% and water use by 10% since the new stadium opened in 2006.
• 34% of the team's waste was diverted from landfills in 2014.
• On average, four tons of trash are recycled at Busch Stadium each game.
• 550 recycling bins are located throughout Busch Stadium.

For more information about Green Week, please visit cardinals.com/greenweek or for more information about 4 A Greener Game, please visit cardinals.com/green. Join the conversation with #4AGreenerGame.