| MICHIGAN
INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Sunday,
August 17, 2008 on ESPN
MIS
initiates recycling program with support from Coke
Source:
Michigan International Speedway
PHOTO
CREDIT: MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
BROOKLYN,
Mich. -- With two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race
weekends and multiple capital improvement projects that
occur each year, Michigan International Speedway is stepping
up its efforts to recycle materials it produces.
The
first step of the speedway’s new year-round recycling
program actually began during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
LifeLock 400 weekend in June. With the support of the
Coca-Cola Co., MIS placed recycling bins throughout the
speedway’s 1,400 acre property, which allowed fans
and workers to discard cans and plastic bottles during
the weekend. It was an immediate success following Sunday’s
big race.
“This
recycling program, with the help of Coca-Cola, is a program
I am very excited about,” track President Roger
Curtis said. “MIS and our fans embraced this voluntary
program together. We were able to collect 15.3 tons of
plastic, cardboard and aluminum during the LifeLock 400
race weekend in June, which we in turn sent to a recycling
center. It truly helps our environment when we have successful
programs like this one.”
Recycling
efforts don’t stop at just cans and bottles at MIS.
The Irish Hills track has also recycled construction materials
following capital improvement projects. To date, MIS has
recycled over 765 tons of construction material and is
reusing steel from Nazareth Speedway and Pikes Peak International
Raceway to build new and improved grandstand seating.
“Once
we finish with a specific project on speedway property,
we make a conscious effort to recycle the materials that
are left over,” MIS Director of Facilities Dan Salenbien
said. “The idea of putting the excess material in
a landfill is not environmentally friendly, so we do the
best we can to recycle our construction materials.”
Additionally,
MIS started an office recycling program in June with the
idea of recycling paper, newspapers, cardboard and plastics
that the speedway offices produce Monday-Friday.
“I’m
glad we instituted an office recycling program,”
MIS staff Accountant Kelly Daniels said. “It’s
a small way that we can participate in this program, which
will help our environment. It’s the right thing
to do.”
These
various recycling programs are all voluntary and are part
of the overall conservation efforts the speedway announced
in mid-July. MIS has also voluntarily enrolled in the
Michigan Business Pollution Prevention Partnership (MBP3)
and Retired Engineers Technical Assistance Program (RETAP)
through the State of Michigan’s Department of Environmental
Quality, while also participating in wetland conservation
and looking at wind and solar power alternatives.
With
all these initiatives moving forward, the Conservation
Fund, a national non-profit organization based just outside
of Washington D.C., has asked MIS President Roger Curtis
to speak at its board of director’s meeting, scheduled
for Thursday, July 24 in Washington D.C.
Earlier
this year, MIS and the Conservation Fund partnered with
the Ryan Newman Foundation to form “Racing for Wildlife.”
MIS is working with Racing for Wildlife to restore the
Mill Lake Youth Camp in Waterloo Twp., which is just 30
minutes from the track. As part of its relationship, Racing
for Wildlife has also become the title sponsor of the
speedway’s ARCA RE/MAX Series event until 2010.
“Some
may find this partnership of motorsports and conservation
unique, but the vast majority of our guests share the
values of sustainability, preservation and love of the
outdoors,” Curtis said. “This is a wonderful
opportunity for me to speak in front of a group who understands
this connection and can help promote and foster that relationship
to accomplish some significant goals in the future.”
Tickets
and camping are available for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo on August 17 and
NASCAR Nationwide Series CARFAX 250 on August 16 by calling
the official MIS Ticket Hotline at 800.354.1010 or by
visiting MISpeedway.com. Michigan International Speedway,
“It’s Your Speed!”
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