As the Lambeau Field expansion project continues, the Green Bay Packers are working with recycling partner Waste Management to recycle the dismantled scoreboards.
Due to the rarity of scoreboards being recycled, the amount of what can be recovered is unknown. However, the materials that are hoped to be salvaged for recycling include steel, aluminum, vinyl, ad panels, wiring, circuit boards, LED display units, and all lighting fixtures.
The boards will be partially disassembled at Lambeau Field while the vinyl ad panels, steel and aluminum are taken to a local refinery, where they will be processed and supplied to steel mills, foundries and manufacturers as feedstock. The video panels will be dissembled to recover recyclable metals and plastic, which will be graded, processed and shipped for further processing. The lighting will be processed to remove mercury, gas and other elements of concern, in order to recover the glass and metal for recycling.
“As part of our green initiative that we focus on each year, we hope to get all of the components of the scoreboards to be recycled,” said Ted Eisenreich, Packers director of facility operations. “We started taking the scoreboard down a week and a half ago, and we thinking in the next couple of weeks it will be completely done.”
“Electronics are full of metals, glass and even plastic that we can readily recycle,” said Dan Roddan, Waste Management account manager. “Waste Management is thrilled to join the Packers in this innovative effort to save energy and natural resources.”
The installation of new Mitsubishi Diamond Vision video boards, which will measure 108 feet wide and 48 feet high, will begin this spring and the boards will be operational for the 2012 season.
The expansion of Lambeau Field will also include approximately 6,700 new seats in the south end zone, a new gate and rooftop viewing platform in the north end zone.
The Packers are financing the costs of the $143 million project with no involvement of public tax money, including general and sales taxes. Components include a traditional loan and proceeds from the stock sale. The team may also obtain funding from the NFL and the stadium district’s user fee program.
