The French Open, also commonly referred to as Roland Garros, is a major tennis tournament that happens each year in late May/early June in Paris, France. It is held at the Stade Roland Garros, and is widely considered to be the most physically demanding tennis tournaments in the world! The French Open is very earth conscious and tries to reduce waste, encourage recycling, and minimize pollution (read about their green initiatives here).
SmartPacks for Waste Management and Recycling at French Open
A Pair of SmartPacks – Recycling and Trash
This is the second year that the Stade Roland Garros installed SmartPack Automatic Trash Compactors at the French Open event. They began with just six SmartPacks in 2014. In 2015, they have twenty-four SmartPacks installed, all situated outside. Twelve SmartPacks are located around the Suzanne Lenglen Tennis Court, (the second largest stadium at Stade Roland Garros, with a capacity of 10,056) and twelve are situated around the Place des Mousquetaires, where the main food area is located. They are positioned with two units side-by-side: one for general waste, and the other for aluminum cans and plastic bottles, making it easy for the spectators to recycle.
Maximizing Recycling and Waste Collection at Roland Garros Facility
SmartPacks Trash Compactors at the French Open are equipped with Harmony Enterprises’ exclusive “Insite” wireless notification system. “Insite” automatically alerts the facility’s Waste Manager when the trash bin is approaching full so that trash related tasks can be completed on demand thus saving labor costs Using the SmartPacks at the French Open at Stade Roland Garros has made a huge difference in the required labor and overall efficiencies at the facility. Thibaut Poulier, Sales Manager at Harmony France explained, “Prior to having the Smart Packs Compactors, Roland Garros had 250 people managing the cleaning of the stadium, now only 180 people are needed. They used to empty the bins 25 times per day, now it is between 2 and 3 times, and never during the lunch rush. It is very nice that public does not see the staff emptying the bins while they area eating.”
SmartPacks Trash Receptacles are Easy for Spectators to Use
It is not just the management and facilities staff at Roland Garros that have noticed a difference since the SmartPacks have been installed. Thibaut noted that the spectators have also enjoyed the change, “People have been pleased because the trash bins are not full anymore and they are not obliged to compact the trash themselves. The area is also cleaner!” Another unexpected benefit, is that the SmartPacks have helped to make the facilities more accessible and user-friendly for people with disabilities. Thibaut pointed out, “Since the door on the SmartPack opens automatically, people with disabilities can get rid of their trash with just one hand.”
Roland Garros is Leading the Way
The SmartPacks have made such a significant difference around the areas at Suzanne Lenglen Tennis Court and Place des Mousquetaires, that they plan on installing the SmartPacks everywhere around the Roland Garros in 2016. With a world-class event like the French Open, it is great to see them taking the lead on efficient and proactive recycling and waste management, that others from around the world have already began to follow.
