ISM and Partners Launch Statewide Recycling Program

Insider Sports Marketing, The N. C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, and three North Carolina Minor League baseball teams have joined together to encourage recycling throughout the state. The project's goal is to not only strengthen established recycling programs, but also to encourage residents to start recycling if they don't.

"This program couldn't have come to fruition if it weren't for the efforts of the individual teams and Kelley Dennings at N.C. DPPEA," said Chip Hutchinson, president of Insider Sports Marketing. "The Asheville Tourists, Hickory Crawdads and Kinston Indians are incredibly supportive of keeping their respective communities green and beautiful through this program."

This summer many local governments surrounding the three participating baseball stadiums will be distributing free baseball ticket vouchers randomly to drop-off recycling and/or curbside recycling customers and through local schools that recycle. DPPEA hopes that the baseball ticket incentive project will help increase recycling rates throughout each community.

DPPEA is not limiting its efforts to residents only. It has plans to help each team create its own recycling program at the ballpark for use not only during the baseball season, but also during off-season events and daily business over the winter months.

"If you're going to start recycling, now is the time to do it," Kelley Dennings, DPPEA Education and Outreach Project Manager said. "You might be one of the lucky ticket winners, just by recycling."

Dennings also mentioned that recycling creates more than 14,000 jobs throughout North Carolina and helps reduce the state's dependency on oil and other natural resources.

DPPEA will sponsor a recycling night at each ballpark, giving away T-shirts, pencils and temporary tattoos along with educational information on the importance of recycling. The first pitch of the game will be thrown by one of the Recycle Guys mascots who will be on-site to generate awareness. The Kinston Indians will hold its recycling night on June 21, the Hickory Crawdads on June 28 and the Asheville Tourists on August 2.