Super Bowl trying to go Green

Hello Readers,

First I want to congratulate the Boston Red Sox for winning the World Series over the Colorado Rockies 4-0. I never thought the Sox would sweep a team as hot as the Rockies but they proved they are the best team in baseball. Now with baseball over, it's time to think about football and the upcoming playoffs in a few months.

I recently read a article in the Arizona Republic about how the National Football League wants to make the Super Bowl more environmental friendly. I think this is a great idea and with all the people that attend the Super Bowl, hopefully it will make a difference if everyone tries to recycle at major event like the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLII is being held in Glendale, Ariz., at the University of Phoenix Stadium which is the home of the Arizona Cardinals. According to the Republic article, the city of Glendale and the NFL are expecting close to 125,000 visitors and that is a lot of trash that will be generated.

Consultant Jack Groh, who heads the NFL’s Environmental Program said in the article that about 1 million pounds of carbon dioxide will be generated during the time of the Super Bowl in Arizona.

According to the article, Groh is planning on meeting with officials in Arizona about possibly planting 30 acres of trees in Arizona to help offset the effects of the Super Bowl. According to the article, planting those trees will "add up to 10 times the number of saplings necessary to counter the carbon impact."

There are some other great things that the NFL is doing during Super Bowl week to help make a difference in the environment. The first is recycling at the Super Bowl. The article said that last year when the Super Bowl was being held in Miami, "70 percent of the 1,000 tons of solid waste was diverted from landfills and recycled."

During the Super Bowl there is obviously a lot of un-eaten food and the NFL is making an effort to deliver the food to local soup kitchens, churches and homeless shelters. I think this is a great idea. If you think about all the food that is cooked but never eaten at an event like the Super Bowl, all that food could feed the hungry for a long time. The NFL is also trying donate all the supplies that go into running the Super Bowl such as decorations, plants, merchandise, and building materials.

I think if the NFL continues this effort when the Super Bowl comes to Arizona then a lot of people less fortunate will benefit from what the NFL are trying to do. There is so much money generated from the Super Bowl it is nice to see that the NFL is trying to give back and not hurt the environment.