Purple Pride Goes Green: Recycling at Ryan Field

A new initiative at Ryan Field has Wildcat fans recycling bottles, cans and cardboard by the ton.

Recycling receptacles have been installed throughout the stadium concourse, the east and west parking lots and the Wildcat Alley tailgating area.

"Fans being able to recycle is new this year," said Julie Cahillane, manager of recycling and refuse. "In the past, vendors recycled cardboard, and the athletic offices were on the standard campus recycling program, but collection of cans and bottles for recycling from fans during tailgating and games had not been established prior to this season."

Cahillane said fans have welcomed the chance to recycle, and the program has been very successful. More than 85 cubic yards of cans and bottles have been collected, weighing in at more than six tons.

The recycling effort is expected to soon expand to other Northwestern sporting events.