The Spokane Indians Baseball Team has been a proud community partner since 1903 and we understand the importance of doing our part to protect the environment and resources for future generations. We've been recycling for years, but our sustainability efforts expanded in 2019 with the announcement of the Zero Waste Campaign. The logo on the left was created in conjunction with the Spokane Tribe of Indians and is used to highlight our environmental efforts. You will find this symbol attached to several areas of our business including Zero Waste Stations throughout Avista Stadium, Redband headbands, K Cards, and worn proudly by our Green Team!
In 2019, the Spokane Indians installed sixty (60) Zero Waste Stations throughout the stadium, located both on the inner and outer concourse and at the skybox level. The Zero Waste Stations have three streams: compost (green bin), recycling (blue bin), and landfill (grey bin). In addition to clear signage, that includes photo examples of each item that can be sorted, all Spokane Indians staff are able to help fans sort items after they're finished eating. Phase 2 of the campaign will include more Zero Waste Stations throughout the ballpark to increase our diversion rate each year which will prevent as many items as possible from going to the landfill.
One of the duties of the newly created Green Team is running the in-house sorting area which is located behind the right field bench seats. Sorting occurs after every home game in the "Compost Corner". You will also see the Green Team during the game on the inner concourse keeping the stadium clean, educating fans, and answering questions.
The Spokane Indians are building a closed loop system so food and items that have been traditionally sent to the landfill are reused. The Indians are investing yearly in many compostable items including beer cups, Pepsi cups (including lids and straws) and utensils. Once fans have finished eating, items are sorted in the Zero Waste Stations and sent to the local composting facility. At the facility items are broken down with high heat and turned into compost that is used to build nutrient-dense soil. This soil is brought back to Avista Stadium and reused in our flower beds. To expand the closed loop system, an on-site vegetable garden is being planned with vegetables to be featured in specialty food items in the future, throughout the ballpark as part of a farm-to-stadium program.
To educate and engage fans, we have several promotional elements. In addition to nightly PA announcements and radio spots, during select games fans can compete in an on-field, between inning Zero Waste Race meant to further educate our fans on the importance of reducing waste and recycling. On certain nights, on the inner concourse fans can be "caught in the act of composting" by a Spokane Indians Green Team member and win a Spokane Indians prize pack.
The Spokane Indians are committed to reducing food waste at the source by using projected attendance and historical data to forecast food usage and cut down on preparing unnecessary amounts of food. Additionally to reduce food waste after it has been prepared and address the issue of food insecurity in Spokane, the Indians partner with Feed Spokane to collect food prepared in excess and redistribute it to the Spokane community. Finally, all prepared food and scraps that do not meet the Feed Spokane requirements are composted. During the 2023 season the Spokane Indians donated over 5,033 pounds of nutritious food, the equivalent of 4,194 meals, which were served to those in need.