Beginning in 2008 the Pittsburgh Pirates implemented a new program to integrate the club’s current greening initiatives and increase awareness to the public. They called this program “Let’s Go Bucs. Let’s Go Green.”

The city of Pittsburgh City Council made a special proclamation:

WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Pirates are a storied baseball club whose beginnings date to 1887 and whose achievements continue to inspire and excite legions of baseball fans in Pittsburgh and beyond; and,
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Pirates organization has demonstrated extraordinary vision and leadership in the implementation of the Let’s Go Bucs, Let’s Go Green program, a program lauded by the environmental community, government officials and private citizens as a model of socially responsible business; and,
WHEREAS, designed to green PNC Park’s operations and implement sustainable business practices, the program’s components include educational outreach and the capture of more than 760,000 recyclable containers throughout the baseball season, the use of corn-based beverage cups by PNC Park’s concessionaires, the elimination of Styrofoam cups, the addition of environmentally-friendly paper products, the installation of motion-detectors and energy saving light bulbs, among many other positive changes; and,
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Pirates recognize the enormous and immediate impact of these changes both on our physical and economic environment; and,
WHEREAS, the first green Pittsburgh Pirates home game took place on April 7, 2008;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the Pittsburgh Pirates for being a leader in our city’s charge to be the center of innovation, green initiatives and sustainable practices in the United States and around the world; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare April 7 – 11 “Let’s Go Bucs, Let’s Go Green Week” in the City of Pittsburgh.

Since 2008 the program has seen steady growth. For instance:

• 2008 – 870 pounds of glass recycled
• 2009 – 2.6 tons of glass recycled
• 2010 – 27.7 tons of glass recycled
• 2011 – 74.5 tons of glass recycled

The overall diversion rate has increased from 27% in 2008 to 36% in 2009 to 40% in 2010 to 61% in 2011. By collaborating with concessionaires Aramark and Levy Restaurants and utilizing programs such as Rock and Wrap it Up they have made a real difference in the city of Pittsburgh.
The Pirates participate in the Energy Star Portfolio Manager which assists in monitoring and reducing energy consumption. Water conservation, paper usage, using soy based inks in programs, and environmentally friendly cleaning products and more have been addressed.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have changed the way they did business and made an impact with Let’s Go Bucs Let’s Go Green.