Wolverine Fans, Let’s Recycle More Than Ever!
In 2025, Michigan fans collected more than 23.5 tons of recyclables and compostables at the Big House, setting a world record. Now, we're aiming even higher.
Join us on October 24 for the Fourth Annual Recycle Bowl as Michigan takes on Indiana, and help us set a new world record. Recycle your plastic bottles, cans, paper and other accepted materials, and help Wolverines show what game day recycling can do.
Recycle Bowl by the Numbers
2025
23.5 tons
2024
22 tons
2023
20 tons
Baseline: 6.5 tons recycled on a typical Michigan Stadium game day.
About the Recycle Bowl
The Recycle Bowl is Michigan Athletics’ annual game-day recycling initiative, created to show the impact fans can make by putting the right materials in the right bins.
Launched in 2023, the event has quickly become a Big House tradition, breaking records each year and reinforcing the university's commitment to a zero-waste game day.
During the 2025 Michigan vs. Washington matchup, fans, students, and partners collected more than 23.5 tons of recyclables and compostables, surpassing 2024’s total and setting a new world record for the most material collected at a college game day.
This year, we’re asking every fan to help raise the bar again.
What to Recycle on Game Day
Look for marked recycling bins throughout Michigan Stadium and surrounding game day areas.
Recycle accepted materials including plastic bottles, cans and paper. For plastic bottles, look for PET, marked with the #1 recycling symbol. PET is designed to be collected, recycled and remade into new bottles, helping keep valuable materials in use and out of landfills.
Small actions add up. Every bottle, can and piece of paper placed in the right bin helps Michigan move closer to a lower-waste game day.
This year, we’re asking every fan to help raise the bar again.
2025 Recycle Bowl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIBBYF7Zzy0
NIL 2025 Video:
Closing the Loop with PET
Tens of thousands of PET bottles (recognized by the #1 inside the triangle) were collected in 2025. PET is strong, lightweight, and fully recyclable – the most recycled plastic in the world. When recycled, it can be made into new bottles, apparel, and packaging, keeping materials in use and out of landfills.
PET Recycling at a High
In 2023, U.S. PET bottle recycling reached its highest level since 1996.
More Recycled Content
The rate of recycled PET content in U.S. bottles reached a record 16.2% in 2023.
Lower Impact, Bigger Win
A typical PET soda bottle has less than half the total greenhouse gas footprint of an aluminum can and about a fifth of a glass bottle.
Take PET Recycling Further
See what goes in the bin, how PET gets remade, and where it goes next.
Learn How to Recycle PET →Our Partners
