The Super Bowl Goes Green and Gives Back
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF) -- Long after Super Bowl 50 wraps up and ships out, some Bay Area school kids will remember the environmental stewardship.
The National Football League's environmental director Jack Groh explained to kids exactly what is and is not recyclable.
"Paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, cardboard...quarterbacks," Groh joked with Bay Area school kids.
"In the local community this will be Super Bowl to them. This will be the permanent reminder that Super Bowl was here," Groh said.
The NFL, along with the Super Bowl Host Committee and corporate partner Verizon, have been working overtime cleaning 800 pounds of trash off area beaches, planting thousands of trees and recycling over 20 pallets of e-waste, all for free and all in an effort to make this game the 'greenest' game in history.
Verizon sustainability group project manager John Dorn said that computers, printers, even some microwaves, and other small appliances are recyclable. Verizon helped collect those items from the community.
Alissa May, director of volunteers for the Super Bowl Host Committee said, "We want to make sure that we are the most giving Super Bowl ever and we are well on our way to that goal. And just this day of service is so important that it falls right before the Super Bowl. That we are able to give back in this way is tremendous for us."
For long time locals it was a chance to show some civic pride.
"Let's help the environment. You come out here and play. Let's help people keep it clean," Bay Area resident Anita Inman said.
And for students at the Super Kids Super Sharing event at Santa Clara University, it was a chance to cheer the donation of over 30,000 gently used books, toys, even soccer balls, all given a second life.
Groh said the gently used supplies will go to "low-income schools, youth programs, after school programs, any place where there is a need."
