San Jose Sharks Receive EPA Recognition for Food Recovery Challenge Success

In recognition of the San Jose Sharks’ reduced waste and increased redistribution of food to the community via their participation in the Food Recovery Challenge, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded the NHL franchise a Certificate of Achievement for their successes. The Food Recovery Challenge, part of the EPA’s National Sustainable Materials Management Program, encourages participants to reduce food waste as much as possible at their facilities.Since 2010, when the Sharks began participating in the program, the team has donated over 20,000 pounds of food – increasing the landfill waste diversion rate at the SAP Center to over 90 percent in connection with recycling and composting programs, while preventing the release of over 16,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and over 14,000 pounds of methane emissions.San Jose’s participation in the Food Recovery Challenge is part of a broader sustainability effort undertaken by the team. Other efforts include the installation of Bloom Energy Servers, making the SAP Center the first multipurpose sports and entertainment facility to supplement electricity with fuel cell technology; an electronics recycling program that has diverted over 100,000 pounds of electronic waste from landfills since 2010; and participation in community cleanup projects on the Guadalupe River."The success of the NHL Green initiative is credited to our Clubs, and their ingenuity and resourcefulness," said NHL director of sustainability Omar Mitchell. "The Sharks continue to take a leadership role by once again proving the environmental and financial benefits of effective waste management strategies, from source reduction and food donations to recycling and composting."Read the full article here.