Bristol Motor Speedway officials and their partners continue to find ways to expand efforts to salvage recyclable material at the world-famous facility and recent numbers show the program works.
With help from partners Thompson Metals, of Kingsport, Tenn., and Anheuser-Busch Recycling, the program to collect aluminum and metal has been enhanced during race time and on a daily basis at BMS. The results are an increase in salvaged tonnage over a 15-month period that allows materials to be put back into use, instead of in a landfill, a benefit to the environment and charity.
With more than 20 tons of aluminum cans and steel recycled since March of 2008, more than $5,000 has gone to the Bristol chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, which in 11 years has given more than $4 million to charities serving children in this region. Last year alone, 83 groups received $575,000.
"Recycling aluminum cans following the two NASCAR Cup events each season has been standard procedure for about five years here," said Jeff Byrd, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway. "But last year we made the decision to expand the process. With help from Thompson Metals, who recycles the material for us and our friends at A-BR giving us 350 bins to place around our property, we have done what's right for the environment and raised more than $7,000 for Speedway Children's Charities in the process.
"It's a huge undertaking to turn around a facility in 12 hours, cleaning up after 100,000 folks and getting ready for around 160,000. We couldn't do it without our team, which includes our guests, who understand what we're doing and help by disposing of this material in the designated areas."
In addition to the bins stationed around the property, 2,000 bags donated by Anheuser-Busch Recycling for aluminum collection are distributed to guests staying in BMS-managed campgrounds. Left "curbside" at camping spots, bags are gathered at intervals by BMS clean-up crews for recycling.
According to Novelis, a world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, the energy saved from recycling one ton of aluminum is equal to the amount of electricity used by an average home over 10 years, or is equivalent in energy to 2,350 gallons of gasoline that could fuel a car rated at 35 miles per gallon for 82,250 miles (Source: novelis.com).
