PRC Executive Director Robert Jondreau will receive the award at an April 22 ceremony in Harrisburg, when DEP leadership will recognize PRC and 18 other businesses, agencies, organizations and individuals for developing innovative environmental programs or implementing projects that balance environmental stewardship and economic development.
“It’s not often that you can get Eagles fans and Steelers fans to agree on anything, but on this they definitely agree: They love tailgate recycling,” according to Jondreau. “Still, we gave each effort its own identity by dubbing the program ‘Recycle A Lot’ in the east and ‘Let’s Tackle Recycling’ in the west.”
Funding from the Alcoa Foundation and collaboration with a multitude of partners enabled PRC to design, develop and launch a program to collect recyclables from tailgating fans attending Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles home games.
During a two-and-a-half-year period following the launch in December 2010, PRC also forged partnerships with the Pitt Panthers, Pittsburgh Pirates and National Hockey League. The NHL 2011 and 2012 Winter Classics were held in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia respectively.
PRC staff and volunteers engaged and educated more than 500,000 pre-game/event tailgating fans in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia – and recycled more than 142,000 pounds of aluminum, glass, plastic and cardboard containers, for an average of more than 4,000 pounds per event.
"Organizations that have developed innovative projects to improve the environment in Pennsylvania deserve recognition," DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. "Gov. Corbett and I are proud to continue this tradition of recognizing the organizations and individuals that show Pennsylvania's economic development does not come at the expense of the environment."
For more information, visit the PA Resources Council website.
