UGA tries to bag tailgate trash

By Laura Diamond

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The University of Georgia wants tailgaters to follow a simple rule at home football games – “if you bring it in, please take it out.”

University officials publicized that mantra Wednesday and said they will add more garbage bins, distribute more trash bags and increase the number of portable bathrooms to prevent a repeat of the destruction that followed the Sept. 12 game against South Carolina.

Tailgaters dumped about 70 tons of garbage and left mounds of tents, grills, coolers, chairs and bottles across the North Campus. They urinated on public buildings and defecated outside, UGA President Michael Adams said.

The next home game is Saturday against Arizona State.

Before the game begins, workers will distribute 12,000 trash bags in parking lots and around campus, officials said.

Also, volunteers from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes distribute trash bags around tailgating areas and encouraging people to properly dispose of their garbage.

The college will increase the number of garbage bins located around campus by 300 to 1,500. Staff also will add several large dumpsters at different locations on the Athens campus.

“I believe the students, alumni and fans who attend UGA football games do love and respect this beautiful campus,” Adams said in a statement. “And I fully expect that they will do their part to clean up after themselves and to ensure that others around them do the same.”

Many students, alumni and community members said last week they were disgusted by the way some people trashed the beloved campus. They demanded officials fix the problem.

As part of the solution, officials said the clean up will begin during the game, instead of the follow day.

American Stadium Services, the company hired to clean up following home games, will send crews to North Campus during the first quarter so they can begin picking up trash bagged by tailgaters.

The college pays the company about $40,000 a game for its services.

Even with these steps, university officials said fans must encourage one another to behave properly.

“It will take the community working together to accomplish this,” said George Stafford, associate vice president for auxiliary and administrative services. “People who profess to care about UGA should help take care of UGA.”