After Michigan football fans helped set a world record with nearly 24 tons of recyclable and compostable material recovered from game day activities in and around Michigan Stadium last year, the Recycle Bowl will return to Michigan Stadium Oct. 24.
The fourth annual event, held during the Michigan football game against Indiana, will again encourage fans to recycle while demonstrating how large events can increase participation and recover more material. More than 110,000 fans participated in the 2025 Recycle Bowl, collecting more than 47,000 pounds of recyclable and compostable material generated from game day activities in and around Michigan Stadium.
The event has grown each year, with 40,000 pounds collected in 2023 and 44,000 pounds in 2024. “Large events give us an opportunity to show sustainability at work at a meaningful scale,” said Alison Richardson, sustainability program manager at the Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation. “The Recycle Bowl connects an everyday action, like putting a bottle in the right bin, with the larger systems that allow materials to be recovered and used again.
“We hope Michigan fans leave not only having participated on game day, but also understanding the importance of recycling in their everyday lives.” This year, organizers also hope to help fans better understand what happens to recyclable materials after they are collected, including how PET plastic bottles can be sorted and made into new bottles and other products.
The Recycle Bowl comes as Michigan works to increase recycling statewide and provides a large-scale demonstration of how recycling infrastructure, education and participation can work together to recover more material. “Michigan Athletics is pleased to participate in the fourth annual Recycle Bowl,” said Paul Dunlop, associate athletic director for facility operations and capital projects. “This event shows how the energy and enthusiasm of our fans can drive real change.”