Club News
Going Green at AYC Regattas
Heidi Rothenhaus, Environmental Committee Chair
AYC
members have heard about the successful NOOD Regatta, with 183 boats from all
over the US. The Sailing Center was put to full use for race management and the
parties held each evening. It was also the Environmental Committee’s first
opportunity to try out new eco-friendly ways of “going green” by reducing waste
through re-use and recycling.
Before
the regatta, the committee worked with Club management to select portable containers
and signage for trash and recycling at large events. With a collapsible design,
the new stations are easily folded, moved, and stored.
 
During the regatta, 20 AYC Eco SAILS volunteers in their
yellow vests – ages 6 and up – served as Recycling Ambassadors, guiding party-goers
on re-using their drink cups, using the new containers for recycling, and
pointing racers to the water bottle refill station, helping reduce the need for
single-use plastic bottles. By the end of the regatta, the recycling dumpster
filled, saving a full load from the landfill.
The committee plans
to have Recycling Ambassadors at the major AYC regattas in late July and early
September. All members and spouses are welcome to join in these and other Eco
SAILS activities. If you are interested, opt in by logging into the AYC website
and selecting Environmental Committee.
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