Penn State fans, with assistance from area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, are making a major contribution to the University Park United Way Campaign.
Through recycling programs at Beaver Stadium and The Bryce Jordan Center, some $8,500 is donated annually to the United Way.
At Beaver Stadium, the Scouts hand out blue recycle bags to fans before the game and staff 12 of 21 recycling stations at the stadium.
"They encourage fans to recycle," Al Matyasovsky, supervisor of Central Support Services in the Office of Physical Plant, said. "And our fans have stepped it up, embraced the program and made it work.
"Before the Beaver Stadium program, now in its fifth year, the amount recycled in a season was two tons. With the program, we are averaging 30 tons a season. An important side benefit is that the Scouts are learning proper recycling habits. They also learn how to work as a team."
At the Jordan Center, the program is conducted year-round, with seven to 10 tons collected annually. For both programs, Joe Krentzman & Son Inc., of Lewistown, collects and markets the recycled materials and turns the proceeds over to the United Way.
"We raise approximately $7,000 annually at Beaver Stadium and $l,500 at the Jordan Center," Matyasovsky said.
A new effort this year involves Penn State student volunteers who assist in the post-game Beaver Stadium clean-up and separate materials for placement in the recycling program. Some 100 students were expected to help after the Penn State-Indiana game on Sept. 25.
The Beaver Stadium program has received a number of awards, including the Pennsylvania Resources Council Recycling and Market Development Award, Three Rivers Environmental Award Runner-up, Waste Watcher Award from the Public Recycling Officials of Pennsylvania, and the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in Recycling and Market Development.