Green Taxi

The Seattle Mariners, with the help of Cedar Grove Composting, are celebrating Earth Day by having the first ever carbon-neutral professional baseball game.  The game against the Orioles today, April 22nd, will celebrate Earth Day by purchasing carbon credits to offset the nearly 230 tons of carbon created from the game.

Some of the main carbon uses for that calculation include:

• Emissions associated with electricity and natural gas used to operate Safeco Field on April 22.
• Disposal or recycling of waste generated during the game.
• Air travel emissions for the Orioles (from Baltimore), Mariners (from Los Angeles) and umpires for the game.
• Hotel-related emissions for Orioles and the umpires.
• Ground travel to and from the ballpark by staff and fans.

While the Cincinnati Reds tried to make the same effort last year on opening day, industry insiders have pointed out to me that their game ended up only being “carbon-reduced”.

The Mariners are setting an example for the rest of the league through their efforts to go green.  Several the green improvements the team has made include:

• In 2007, the Mariners recycled 342 tons of plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, cans and glass.
• Last year, the Mariners became one of two Major League teams to recycle food waste, diverting 100 tons of food scraps and food-contaminated paper from the waste stream to be made into compost by Cedar Grove.
• Through an energy efficiency program, the Mariners have so far reduced the use of natural gas by 36 percent and electricity consumption by 18 percent.
• All diesel-powered motorized groundskeeping equipment runs on B-20 biodiesel.
• Flow-restricting aerators have been installed on all restroom faucets.
• All plastic cups used in the ballpark are made of biodegradable, compostable plastic.
• When plastic bowls, plates and utensils are used, they contain less plastic by volume, which will reduce waste by 18,000 per season.
• Paper products in all bathrooms contain paper towels, tissues and toilet paper that are elemental chlorine free and made from 40 percent post-consumer fiber.

Stephen Banchero from Cedar Grove Composting will throw out the first pitch for the game. 

“The Mariners are thrilled to have Stephen throw out the first pitch at this historical event,” comments Manager of Marketing and Promotions Cole Parsons.

Friends of Stephen are concerned if his core strength is built up enough to get the ball to home plate.

“He’s been laying off the Ab Shocker recently.  Hopefully they’ll let him throw from half the distance to the mound, like the Dodgers did for Victoria Beckham,” points out longtime acquaintance Michael Neu.

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