The Knoxville Civic Coliseum - in partnership with the Knoxville Ice Bears and the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee's AmeriCorps Volunteers - launched an ambitious recycling project at the Coliseum in October of 2009. To date the Coliseum has recycled just under two and one half tons of materials.

The effort focuses on collecting plastic bottles, cups and aluminum cans generated by the concession sales as well as cardboard from the concession stand vendor. Recycling containers were placed throughout the coliseum and used during the Ice Bears games as well as other events. 

"The project at the Coliseum offers Ice Bears fans another opportunity to recycle and joins a growing list of other events held in city facilities or sponsored by the City of Knoxville that offer recycling programs. Those include Sundown in the City, America Recycles Day and Earth Fest Knoxville's Earth Day celebration," said Mayor Bill Haslam.

Developing a recycling program at the Civic Coliseum is one of the goals set by the AmeriCorps volunteers for community projects this year and is being evaluated for continued use as an ongoing program at the Coliseum. 

"Recycling any amount of material and will lessen our carbon footprint and contribute to helping the environment by using less of our natural resources and produce less air and water pollution," said John Homa, City of Knoxville Solid Waste Project Manager.

Rock-Tenn Recycling, a local recycler, processes the materials the City collects including the Recycling Drop-Off Centers and materials from local businesses.

The coliseum recycling program is being sponsored by the City of Knoxville's Office of Solid Waste, a part of the city's Public Service Division. The City is grateful to the Knoxville Ice Bears; Knox County Office Solid Waste Department; Knoxville-Knox County CAC AmeriCorps Volunteers; Rock-Tenn Recycling and the Coliseum staff for making this project possible.