BERKELEY – For the fourth consecutive year, California Athletics took the crown in the Pac-12 Conference's Zero Waste Competition, the league announced Tuesday.
 
Each Pac-12 institution participates in the competition with the goal of determining which university diverted the most waste from the landfill at a selected men's basketball game, as well as which used the most innovative methods to expand reach and impact of sustainability education efforts. The Golden Bears earned their fourth overall title for men's basketball's efforts when Cal hosted Washington this February.
 
Three judges selected the winner, including basketball legend and sustainability enthusiast Bill Walton, UNC Charlotte sustainability coordinator Tyler Sytsma and sustainability coordinator for Orange Coast College Mike Carey. Each school submitted a summary scorecard describing their efforts around the Zero Waste game upon which they were judged. In addition to the overall waste diversion rate, the universities were scored on innovation, partnership and participation, and fan engagement.
 
The Bears achieved a 95.7 percent gameday diversion rate, which included landfill garbage, cardboard and mix paper recycling, bottles and cans, compost and food/recovery donations. Among Cal's initiatives, fans were encouraged to donate used clothing in exchange for a repurposed Cal t-shirt, while local elementary school students volunteered to "trash talk" with fans at the game.
 
"All of our member schools have terrific sustainability programs and departments, setting us far on this most important front," Walton said. "Particular note must be pointed out for the excellent presentations and submissions from overall winner, California."
 
Arizona won the subcategory for fan engagement, while Stanford earned student-athlete engagement merits and Arizona State received special recognition for exemplary effort.